What's going on?

I know that those of you who are using bloglines are frustrated because you can't add www.toddlive.net to your feeds. Trust me, you aren't the only one. We'll figure it out soon and I will let you know!

Ch-Ch-Changes...

A year ago, I barely knew what a blog was. Now it has become a part of my daily activity. Needless to say, I am really excited about having a new blog. So, if you are looking for me, you will have to go to www.toddlive.net.

It will be nice to have my own design and not to have the same template that 46 million other people have. Thanks Jon for designing this thing. You are the man!

Weekend Random Thoughts...

1. This is post #250. I can't believe that people actually read this stuff.
2. A new blog is coming! It should be up by Monday.
3. Joni and I spent 26 hours in the car over 3 days.
4. I love having the opportunity to hang out with Joni. We had lots of stuff to talk about. She is certainly the smarter and better looking of the 2.
5. We just added the 5th (and final) member of our staff. It has been amazing how things are coming together. Check out JR's comments on his new blog (jrlive.net).
6. I am learning so much about God and trusting Him. I am loving trusting Him for huge things.
7. Some people have asked me "what happens if this all doesn't work out"? There is no plan B. We are confident that God has called us to do this and He will provide.
8. Being away from your kids for a couple of days makes you miss them and appreciate them like crazy!
9. It is awesome to have people that you can trust to take care of your kids while you are away.
10. Looking for houses is exciting and scary, especially when yours hasn't sold yet.
11. I care deeply about what happens at Crosspointe after I leave, contrary to popular belief.
12. It is amazing how quickly your emotions can change.
13. I really enjoyed beating Stevie at NCAA 07. The strawberry milkshake was amazing.
14. I am still praying for Jason. I know that these are really tough days!
15. This guy has become one of my favorite people!

So you had a sad day?

In 1996, I was a freshman at North Greenville University. One night I was sleeping soundly when something woke me up very quickly. As I sat up, I realized that water had been dumped on my by Jason Patterson and Bryan Lark. This was my introduction to these guys. We have since become the best of friends (and I am not sure how that happened).

Today I drove to SC to attend the funeral of Jason's dad. Robert, or Big R (what most people called him), was an incredible man. It was awesome to see how he had impacted the lives of so many. It was one of the saddest funerals that I have ever attended. Cancer cut short the life of a man that was the 'real deal'. He was a model of integrity, godliness, and love for people.

Here are a couple of thoughts that ran through my head while I sat there:

1. Big R's death has really caused me to think about my family. He was basically the same age as my parents. It seems way too early in life for my friends' parents to be dying.

2. I want my kids to be able to stand and say the kind of things that Jason said about his dad.

3. I want to live in such a way that people will agree with the thing that are said on stage about my life. I don't want some guy to have to make up some stuff!

4. I love guys like Big R. They are serve and love in a very unselfish way. He allowed God to use him in an incredible way to make a difference in the lives of so many....including mine!

I know that this was a morbid post, but it is what is on my mind!

Interesting Days Ahead...

Tomorrow, Joni and I will get up at 4:00 am to drive to SC for a funeral. One of my greatest friends in all the world just lost his dad in a battle with cancer. It is really hard for me to imagine that one of my friends, who is about the same age, just lost his dad. Jason, Rita, and Casey, please know that we are praying for you guys. I can't imagine the pain you are feeling at this time.

We'll have dinner with our parents and hang out with them. Friday morning, we will have to drive to Acworth early to meet with a realtor and look at some houses. Then, we will hang out with some friends and drive back to Memphis on Saturday. It seems like we are going to be driving pretty much all weekend.

It is going to be a few interesting days and I am sure that they will be very tiring. I am looking forward to spending lots of time hanging out with Joni, just the two of us.

By the way, I think I forgot to mention yesterday that I ran over a cheerleader when I was in the Hamster Ball. She will never been the same after being run over by a fat guy in a clear inflatable ball!

What do you get?

What do you get when you mix a horrible NBA team, 4 guys looking to have a good time, great seats, bbq nachos from Bigfoot Lodge, and 2 huge inflatable balls? A very, very interesting night! Josh, Andrew, JR and myself all went downtown for dinner and a Grizzlies game.

For some strange reason, JR and I were selected to participate in a hamster ball race. The objective? Weave in and out of some cones the length of the court and back. Sound easy enough? Not so much when you are inside a huge inflatable ball. JR defeated me by a narrow margin. I was trying not to fall because we refused to wear the ridiculous looking helmets. They promised to give us free tickets to next Monday's game. Instead they gave us a medium tshirt and squishy ball. It was worth it just for the experience.

The Grizzlies lost, the food was great, and a good time was had by all! We seem to be able to make any night interesting! I don't know anyone else that can say they rolled down the court in a big hamster ball!! Thanks for the hookup, Andrew and Josh.

Prayer

I have had several people ask me about how they can pray for my family and JR's family during this transition time. Here are a few specific things that you can help us to pray for:

1. Wisdom.
2. The right people to lead the student ministry at Crosspointe.
3. Buyers for our houses.
4. Houses for us to buy.
5. Our wives and kids to be able to adjust well.
6. People to jump on board with the vision of Freedom Church.
7. $$ needed for Freedom Church. We need over $300,000 dollars for the first year.
8. 2 Laptops (Everything for us is about to have to become portable.)
9. The people of Acworth, GA

Thanks for praying with us and for us!

He is Risen!

1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.

15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead.

16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.

18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead.

Good Friday

I love Easter! I love it because it is an opportunity for us to take a break from the busyness of life to spend some time focusing on the HIGH price that Jesus paid for you and for me. I get so overwhelmed when I think about how Jesus was willing to go through all of the pain and agony of the cross for ME! One of my goals in life is to make sure that I remind myself of that on a daily basis and NEVER get over what God has done and is doing in my life!

Toby Mac meets Chris Farley..

I am a HUGE Toby Mac fan! Check out this video for a good laugh. Several times, I ahve thought about it randomly and just started laughing. Maybe it is so funny to me because I identify with it so well. Check it out:

http://www.tobymac.com/default.aspx
(Scroll down to the featured video)

It's Gettin, Gettin, Gettin Kind of Hectic...

As the days go by,

...I get more excited about Freedom Church and the future.


...I get more sad about leaving Crosspointe, where I have been for 7 years.

...I fear the unknown even more.

It is a very awkward time to have Lollis or Lee as your last name. I will be posting some specific things that you can help us to pray about. I'm out! It is time to go hang out with some of the greatest students in the entire world!

Entertain for a Change

Over the past few weeks, I have had several people make a comment to me that I simply doesn't make sense to me. I understand the comment, I just do not understand why a person would think that way. Here's the comment:

"People shouldn't come to church to be entertained. I guess they were just coming for the show."

I totally agree that Jesus should be all that we need. His Word and His presence should be enough. But here is my issue with that statement.

Entertainment shouldn't matter. But it sometimes does. We would be ridiculous if we didn't acknowledge that we are competing for people's attention. People have very busy lives and will not give their time to something that is irrelevant, pointless, and boring. Things have changed. People will no longer attend church just because they are "supposed to".

Churches should be the most creative places on the planet. God gave us a brain and allows us to use it freely. We have the opportunity to create an atmosphere that is appealing to those that are far from God. However, most of the time we spend little time and energy making it excellent. People tend to make statements like the one above because their churches are lazy.

There are those people out there that think that their attendance only counts when they are miserable at church. They feel like there should be no fun (After all, God demands reverance, right?). I think the opposite of that is true. Church should be fun. It should be a place we desire to go to. We should get out of bed on Sunday mornings longing to go to worship. In fact, I think it is a sin to make church boring. How can we take the most exciting news in all the world and communicate it in a way that people are not interested? That, my friends, is a sin!

You want me to tell you what is exciting? LIFECHANGE. People having an authentic encounter with the Creator of the Universe will create excitement and buzz that no one can contain. People beginning a relationship with Jesus. People getting set free from the chains of sin. People being forgiven.

If I have to do creative things to draw in the people, that's perfectly ok with me. Because I know if we can get them in the door, we can see God do something amazing in their lives. Without a doubt, I am willing to entertain someone, if that means that their life can be changed for an eternity.

New pics of Brayden...

New Pics of Anniston...

Just a Loud Noise??

I don't want this verse to describe my life:

Pharaoh king of Egypt is only a loud noise; he has missed his opportunity. (Jeremiah 46:17)

This helps confirm to me that God has called me to Acworth. I do not wish to be reduced to only a loud noise. I desire to chase the dreams that God has given me. It is huge. It is scary. It is a God-sized dream. If He doesn't come through, we're sunk. There is no plan B. But I know my God good enough to know that where He calls, He provides. For that reason, I can agree with Howard Schultz. I want to share with you a quote from his book, Pour Your Heart Into It. This is the account of his opportunity to purchase a small coffee chain called Starbucks. Check this out, it describes the thoughts rolling around in my head:

If I don't seize the opportunity, if I don't step out of my comfort zone and risk it all, if I let too much time tick on, my moment will pass. I knew that if I didn't take advantage of this opportunity, I would replay it in my mind for my whole life, wondering: What if? ~ Howard Schultz via Mark Batterson

Craziness...

3 unexpected meetings + 3 1/2 hours of hospital visits = not much time for posting...

it has been a really crazy day... tonight i have my fantasy baseball draft and Clemson plays in the finals of the NIT...should be a fun night...

check back soon for a very interesting post...

Wednesday...

I am really excited because it is Wednesday. I love Wednesdays because I get to hang out with some of the most incredible Middle Schoolers on the planet.

I especially want the next few weeks to be awesome, especially after I had to announce to them that my family is leaving. We only have limited time together and I plan to make the most of it!! I love you guys and can't wait to spend some time with you. Let's make these next few weeks incredible!

I just don't know what to say...

He can't sing. He looks ridiculous. He must go home tonight or I might just throw my remote through my TV.

Tigers headed to NIT Finals...

After getting by Air Force, Clemson will play West Virginia for the NIT Championship. Let's go Tigers!

Random Thoughts....

At least once a week, I like to create a random list of things running through my head. Here we go:

1. Words cannot express how sad I am about leaving Crosspointe. It is going to be a difficult month!
2. God is teaching me A LOT lately!
3. In case you are wondering, I am cheering for Georgetown in the Final Four. I picked them to win it all. Let's go Hoyas!!
4. I am glad that everyone finally knows about us leaving. It is a relief to be able to talk openly about it.
5. I am pretty sure Acie Law's(Texas A&M) dad is Snoop Dogg.
6. Is there anything better in sports than March Madness?
7. It be Ohio St. and FL for the Nat'l Championship. That would be strange since those teams just played in the football Nat'l Championship.
8. Last Wednesday was one of the hardest days of my entire life.
9. I forgot to mention this last week but I finally got a Wii. It is amazing! Video gaming just went to a whole new level!
10. My family is amazing! I love them like crazy!!
11. I really hope that Clemson wins the NIT. I know it is just the NIT, but it is a start!
12. I have way more questions than answers about the upcoming months in my life.
13. To be really honest, I am excited/scared/sad all at the same time.
14. My fantasy baseball draft is this week.
15. "Most God ordained dreams die because we aren't willing to something that seems illogical." ~ Mark Batterson

I'm going to crash. This should be a busy week. I'm out!

Still can't believe it...

It is so hard for me to believe that this time is here. I knew it was coming and I even thought I was prepared for it. It is still the hardest thing that I have ever done. Thanks so much for all the calls, cards, emails, etc. It has been so encouraging! Joni and I love you guys more than you could ever imagine!

I am excited because Joni and I are going out tonight. We really need some time away because this week has been emotionally draining.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it...

Before you read this, I want you to know that this will be the longest post you will ever read from me. However, I wanted to share my heart and what is going on in the life of my family. So, here is the HUGE announcement:

About two years ago, God began to place an idea and a dream in the hearts and minds of JR Lee and myself. At first, it was nothing more than that. Just a thought and a dream. As time moved on, we began to think about and pray about it more and more. Both of us had opportunities to go different places that would be appealing to any Student Pastor but every time, God said no. This was instrumental in the process by helping us to seek what God’s plan was for us long term.

God began to confirm in our hearts that his plan for us was to plant a new church. This was hard for us to believe because neither of us had ever started a church or served in any other capacity than student ministry. We both love student ministry and really cannot imagine doing anything else. However we know that God has called JR to be the Lead Pastor and me to serve as the Associate Pastor. We began to meet and discuss this calling on our lives with Pastor Steve and Perry. They were 100% supportive.

One of the big questions that we had was where. At first, we felt that God was calling us to Greenville, SC. We felt that way for more than a year. However, within 3 days, all of the doors there were slammed shut. Within that same time period, God began to open new doors in Acworth, GA. I really feel that the opportunity in Greenville presented itself so that God could move me out of my comfort zone. It was easy for me to say that I would go to Greenville because it is my hometown and all of our family lives there. However, I knew that it was God’s plan for us to make the move to Acworth, which is 30 minutes north of Atlanta.

The next question was when. As we have prayed through this process, this has been the toughest part. We had originally planned to leave in January. We were hoping that Crosspointe would have a pastor by then. We were hoping for a new Pastor because we knew that would be a better time for us to leave. Needless to say, that didn’t happen. God has confirmed to us that the time is now. This dream and vision has consumed us. It is all we think about. It is all we dream about. It keeps us awake at night.

Therefore, we announced to the students last night that we are resigning our positions here at Crosspointe to follow this dream that the Lord has given us. We will announce to the church on Sunday. We will be at the church through April 29. We desire to help with the transition to ensure that ministry continues in both the High School and Middle School Ministries. After spending 7 years of my life here, I care deeply about what happens to the Middle School Ministry after I am gone.

There are tons of emotions running through my head today.
-I am excited about the future. God is going to do something so big that it is going to blow our minds. I constantly dream about what it is going to be like in a year, 3 years, 5 years, etc.
-I am scared to death. Where is the funding for this plant going to come from? Is my house going to sell quick enough? Is my family going to have food to eat? Are the students at Crosspointe going to be ok? Am I going to be able to function in a role that I have never served in before?
-I am deeply saddened. Crosspointe has been my life for 7 years. Some of my best friends in the entire world are here. The greatest Middle and High School students in the world live here. I am going to miss them all. It is going to be really hard to leave here. That's all I will say about that right now because the tears will start to flow.

Obviously, we are learning more and more about trusting God. I am learning more and more that He is sovereign and trustworthy. I still have a long way to go!

What can you do? Pray, Pray, Pray. To quote the great theologian MC Hammer, “You got to pray just to make it today!”

Look for more information and thoughts about this whole process on a daily basis. I am so excited that I can now write about this because I want you to know my heart and the journey that God is taking us on.

Not the big announcement...

No, this is not the big announcement that I promised. I will post that in a few minutes. These are just a couple of random thoughts:

1. I am so excited that Clemson is going to the Final 4 in the NIT tournament. Now, I know a lot of you haters will say it is the "Not Invited Tourney" and stuff like that. I hear you. But it is a start. Nevertheless, I am proud of the Tigers. Great win over the 'Cuse last night. We just need to bring the championship home!

2. I thought it was interesting that Steven Furtick, Pastor at Elevation Church in Charlotte, had the #1 blog in all the world the other day. Not just the top blog among preachers, but the #1 blog period. Pretty impressive for a guy who has only been a pastor for a year. God is doing crazy things there. They are running 1700 people after one year and beginning a second campus. Congratulations, Steven.

3. It cannot be possible that Sanjaya is STILL on American Idol. I seriously do not know how much longer I can take it! This is reassuring me that even I could be the next American Idol!

4. I am excited because one of my best friends in the entire world is now blogging. Chad was my roommate in college. He is the Pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Mauldin, SC. It will be good for us to be able to do a little better job keeping up with one another. I'm sure he has lots of funny stories about me, but that's ok. That goes both ways. Check his blog out!

Tonight and Tomorrow...

This is one of the saddest days of my life...

Check back tomorrow for a HUGE announcement!

Hillsong

I love music! I do not know if there has been a bigger understatement than that. This song by Hillsong United continues to rock my world:

Majesty
your grace has found me just as I am
Empty handed but alive in Your hands

Singing Majesty
Majesty
Forever I am changed by Your love
In the beauty of Your Majesty

Busted Bracket...

This year I filled out 6 different brackets. After round 1, they are pretty much jacked up. We'll see what happens!

Wardrobe Change

Beginning this Sunday, JR and I will be wearing these.

Time to go Dancin' / Unleashed

Before you call the Southern Baptist Convention and report me, I am not talking about real dancing (although there is nothing wrong with it). I am talking about March Madness. You know, the Big Dance. I love this time of year. I am curious about who this years' Cinderella team will be. It is such a strange year because I really believe that there are about 6 teams with the potential to win this thing. However, no one is an overwhelming favorite. So, let the games begin...

Also, I am pretty jealous of some of my friends. They are attending the UNLEASHED Conference at Newspring Church in Anderson, SC. All day, several guys are posting notes from the conference. Check out notes from this guy and this guy. No one does it like Newspring and Perry Noble.

By the way, I cannot stand the fact that Sunjaya is still on American Idol. Is America stupid?

What is going on?

My life seems to be filled with lots of randomness right now. For example:

1. Random item found at the church: swimming pool stairs. How did someone leave those here? And why were they here in the first place?

2. Random smell: it seems that everywhere I drive, I encounter the smell of a skunk.

3. Random thing that someone said to me yesterday: "My wife called singing 'Gangsta's Paradise' and I thought of you." Thanks Jeff. I am glad someone recognizes how hardcore I really am.

4. Random songs in my head all day: "Wonderwall" by Oasis and "Big Poppa" by Notorious BIG and "What Goes Around" by Timberlake.

5. Random Dream I Had: I dreamed that our old Associate Pastor came in and fired me. I was pretty mad! He didn't even allow me to get my stuff. As I am walking out the front door, he tells me that he was just kidding. I was not a happy person! What kind of sense does that make?

Blogging...

Last June, I decided to start blogging. I had no idea how it would change my life. I am not being overdramatic. It really has.

~It has allowed people to get to know the real me. Not just the guy they see on Sundays and Wednesdays.

~It allows you to grow spiritually. I am encouraged daily by the things that I read. In the past, you have had to wait for a book to come out to be able to learn about whatever it is that you want to know. Now, someone is probably somewhere blogging about it. I am currently reading 35 different blogs on a regular basis. This has stretched me in a huge way and allowed me to keep my finger on the pulse of what is going on in the world.

~It has allowed me to connect with people that I might not have ever connected with.

I encourage you to check out the blogging world. It will change your life!!

A couple of side notes:

I am excited to see what this guy has to say. The blogging world erupted when he announced that he was going to begin blogging again.

Also, check out this post. It was written by Josh Currie, who teaches the Millington/Woodstock small group in the Middle School Ministry. It is worth reading! Thanks Josh for loving Jesus and middle schoolers!

Busy Weekend...

This is the most productive weekend ever, as far as getting stuff done around the house goes. Here's a rundown of what I accomplished.

1. Cut the grass (It seems way too early for this!)
2. Trimmed the hedges.
3. Washed both cars.
4. Got rid of some dead holly bushes.
5. Went running both days.
6. Spent lots of time hanging out with my family.
7. Changed the Bypass Valve in Joni's car. I didn't even know a car had one of those.(This is nothing short of a miracle for anyone that knows my mechanic skills.)

It was a great weekend to be outside!

I just watched last weeks episode of the Apprentice. Is there a more odd combination than Donald Trump and Snoop Dogg?

I gotta run. Some guys are coming over to hang out, watch basketball, and play some video games.

DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS! (I am pretty mad about losing an hour of sleep but excited about it staying daylight longer!)

I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing...

Some interesting statistics were just released by the guys over at Christianity Plus:

91% of the world's population has heard of Coke

74% have seen Coke

51% have tasted it

However, only 10% of the world has heard the Gospel. Sounds like we still have lots of work to do. Maybe we can learn a few things from Coke.

We Are the Champions, my Friend

Sorry I couldn't resist the Queen reference. It is true. It is a done deal. We have repeated as champions of the boys 15-18 league. Winning one championship is hard, but repeating is even harder because you are the team that everyone wants to beat. We struggled in the first half but played great in the second half.

Jesse, TJ, Drew, and Daniel all played in their last game because they are seniors. Thanks guys for your leadership. Congratulations also to Mark, Deandre, Jay, Javan, Terry, Seth, Josh, and Blake. You guys deserved this because you worked hard, played smart, and wanted it more than everyone else!

Let the games begin...

Today is the kickoff of my favorite time of the year, when it comes to sports. Today the ACC tournament begins and will be followed by the NCAA Basketball Tournament. These guys need to win today to get into the Big Dance. Nothing is better than these tournaments! You've got college kids playing their guts out to advance to the next round. It is so different from the NBA because everyone is giving their best. They all want to play in the NBA some day and are working hard to make their dream a reality. 64 teams. Only one champion. Bring on the March Madness!!

Also, today is our last basketball game of the season. If we win tonight, we win the championship for the second year in a row. In 2 years, we have only lost 2 games. Pretty impressive, huh? Maybe JR and I should try to get a job in the NBA. I can assure you that the coaching has not been the secret. Having guys that work hard, play as a team, and have a desire to win has been the key.

Chill Out please...

Is anyone else sick and tired of hearing about Britney and Anna Nicole? Let Anna Nicole rest in peace and let's give Britney some privacy. I am also disturbed at how the Christian community has bashed Britney lately. It would be awesome if we spent our energy trying to reach her and other celebrities, instead of spending our energy criticizing them. She is a person desperately in need of a relationship with Jesus Christ.


I thought that Perry Noble had something really funny to say about the breaking news that the body of Jesus was discovered. Here is is:

Let just say that I am TICKED off…the world has gone crazy over James Cameron’s supposed discovery of the body of Jesus Christ…and he says he has DNA evidence to prove it. (Does anyone find it fascinating that they CAN know its the body of Jesus through DNA evidence BUT they can’t figure out who the father of Anna Nicole Smith’s baby is using that same technology?)

Fight for your Right...

A couple of things...

1. I am neutral in this situation, so I think that I can speak without being biased. Yesterday, Tyler Hansborough got hit in the nose with an elbow in a game that he should have not been still in anyway. It was obvious he didn't intentionally hit him. Obviously, there has to be an intentional foul, but I thought the punishment was too severe. It was funny to watch his face as he peeled himself from the floor.

2. I am also a huge UFC fan. It was awesome to see Randy Couture win the Heavyweight Championship in his first fight back out of retirement. He is the man! My goal is to be in that kind of shape by the time I am 43. Looks like I have a lot of work to do.

That's Quotable

Risk more than others think is safe.
Care more than others think is wise.
Dream more than others think is practical.
Expect more than others think is possible.
~Cadet Maxim, West Point Military Academy

To look at something as though we had never seen it before requires great courage.
~Henri Matisse

You don't get to control any outcome, only every choice you make along the way.
~Stephen C. Paul

Be the change you want to see in the world.
~Mahatma Gandhi

Weekly Reflections...

1. It was good to be on vacation this week. The last time we were in SC was for Christmas. This time was extremely different. We didn't have as many places to go and people to see. It was much more relaxing.
2. Anniston weighs 14lbs 11oz. She continues to steal more and more of my heart.
3. I am watching UNC/Duke. What a great rivalry! It is crazy how competitive the ACC is this year.
4. I just watched Heroes from last Monday. I missed an episode because my Tivo didn't record it. Needless to say that I am extremely confused. However, I do love this show.
5. Just saw that Clemson beat Virginia Tech today. How did that happen?
6. I am learning a lot about people these days.
7. How is this guy still on American Idol? If he makes it past this week, I am not sure I can watch this show anymore.
8. Church basketball season is almost over. I have mixed emotions about that. I love coaching but I am excited about getting some time back.
9. Today is my 5th annual 27th Birthday. I thought you were supposed to get wiser as you got older?

I heard someone say this week that, "Jesus didn't die for us(the church) to create our own subculture. When we do this, we are basically having a conversation with ourselves. If we only have contact with Christians, how will the world know that Jesus loves them?" Interesting...

The End is Near...

All good things must come to an end. I guess that means my vacation too. Early tomorrow, my family will jump in the car and drive 9 hours back to Brighton. Pray for us as we travel. Also, pray for our car. We have had a little transmission trouble while we have been here and it would not be good to breakdown in the middle of nowhere with 2 kids.

We are going back tomorrow so that I can get back to coach the boys team, as we play the only team that has beaten us all season. Should be an interesting game.

Newspring Church

Yesterday, Joni and I got to go to Newspring Church in Anderson, SC for their morning worship service. This church started in 1999 and averages around 8,000 each weekend. They also baptized 212 people this past Saturday. Here are some of my observations about the church:

1. They do everything with excellence!
2. Their sound system is amazing. I don't know if I have ever heard better sound anywhere.
3. It is obvious that they spend their time and energy on making their services extremely creative and relevant.
4. Their volunteers are awesome. I don't know if I have ever been around people that were more excited about serving Jesus! There were plenty of guys standing out in the rain to help people park and walk them to the door with umbrellas.
5. I have the worst luck when I go there. I have been twice and Perry Noble has not preached either of the times I have been there.
6. People were engaged in what was going on.
7. I had a real encounter with Jesus while I was there. The music was incredible and the message connected.
8. They talk about Jesus...a lot! One of the criticisms of a rapidly growing church is that "it is just a cult" or "no real ministry is going on". Nothing could be further from the truth.

In my opinion, this is one of the great churches in the country. They certainly have momentum on their side (I'll explain this tomorrow). I can't believe that they are seeing God do His thing in Anderson. Anderson is not a large community, so 8000 people in one place in a weekend is a HUGE deal! If you ever get the chance, check out Newspring in person or you can watch their services on the internet!

Sunday...

Joni and I went to Newspring Church in Anderson, SC this morning. I want to spend some time telling you about our experience there, so I will post about that tomorrow. All I have to say is that it was stinkin' awesome!

One the way there, I heard an interesting song on the radio. I had heard this song on the Grammy's a couple of weeks ago. It is not the type of song that I would usually recommend on this blog. Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of rap music. I am usually more of an old school kind of guy.

So, although I do not usually encourage people to listen to Ludacris, I thought this song had some great lyrics. Seems to help us understand the pressures of life that todays teenagers face. Notice I didn't say that they were theologically correct but an accurate picture of the drama that teenagers face. Check it out:

Runaway Love

Now little lisa is only 9 years old
Shes tryin to figure out why the world is so cold
Why shes all all alone and they never met her family
Mamas always gone and she never met her daddy
Part of her is missin and nobody will listenin
Mama is on drugs gettin high up in the kitchen
Bringin home men at different hours of the night
Startin with laughs--usually endin in a fight
Sneak into her room while her mamas knocked out
Tryin to have his way and little lisa says 'ouch'
She tries to resist but then all he does is beat her
Tries to tell her mom but her mama don't believe her
Lisa is stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that hell is a place called home
Nothin else to do but some get some clothes and pack
She says shes bout to run away and never come back.

Runaway love (8x)

Little nicole is only 10 years old
Shes steady tryin to figure why the world is so cold
Why shes not pretty and nobody seems to like her
Alcoholic step dad always wanna strike her
Yells and abuses, leaves her with some bruises
Teachers ask questions she makin up excuses
Bleedin on the inside, cryin on the out
Its only one girl really knows what she about
Her name is lil stacy and they become friends
Promise that they always be tight til the end
Until one day lil stacy gets shot
A drive by bullet went stray up on her block
Now nicole stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that hell is a place called home
Nothin else to do but some get some clothes and pack
She says shes bout to run away and never come back.

Runaway love (8x)

Little erica is eleven years old
Shes steady tryin to figure why the world is so cold
So she pops x to get rid of all the pain
Cause shes havin sex with a boy whos sixteen
Emotions run deep and she thinks shes in love
So theres no protection hes usin no glove
Never thinkin bout the consequences of her actions
Livin for today and not tomorrows satisfaction
The days go by and her belly gets big
The father bails out he aint ready for a kid
Knowin her mama will blow it all outta proportion
Plus she lives poor so no money for abortion
Erica is stuck up in the world on her own
Forced to think that hell is a place called home
Nothin else to do but get her clothes and pack
She say shes about to run away and never come back.

Runaway love [repeats til end]

Man Card

Ok...I am risking a lot by posting this for all the world to see. I am pretty sure that my man card should be taken away immediately. Joni has been talking for a while about wanting to get a pedicure. Today, I made that happen for her. She also has been trying to get me to get one also. Today she talked me into it.

I know....I know. I accept the abuse and humiliation that I will receive. However, I will have to say that it was pretty amazing! I hate feet. I hate people touching my feet and I also hate touching other people's feet. It was strange and awkward, but worth it in the end. Laugh all you want, it was great!

Oh yeah, since we are on the subject of feet, I saw an interesting church sign yesterday. I don't remember the name of the church, but it was described as Independent and Footwashing. Nothing makes a lost person want to go to church like that!

It was the best of times....It was the worst of times...

Today was both a great day and a somewhat frustrating day.

First the good stuff...
I got to spend all day with my family.
My kids were great on the 8 1/2 hour drive to SC.
We made great time getting here, with no speeding tickets!
I realized that Brayden is starting to remember a lot of stuff. He knew when we
were almost to our parents' house.
Joni and I got to see our parents.
Our basketball team won.
My vacation officially began when we pulled in the driveway here.

Disclaimer: The good stuff far outweighed the bad stuff!

Bad stuff:
My phone crashed on me. This morning it had a blue screen. I made up my mind at
that point that I was not going to allow this to make me mad all day. It is
amazing how dependent we are on those things!
I didn't have a phone all day in the car. This is when I usually catch up on some
phone calls. Especially when everyone else in the car is asleep.
I lost all of my phone numbers. I got a replacement phone, but they could not
salvage my numbers.
I also lost my pics, ringtones, and a sweet Tiger Woods game.
Clemson lost for the 8th time in 10 games, after starting 17-0. They get the "We
only play one half of basketball" award!
My sister was taping something for me. She decided that she should go old school and record it on her VCR. She only taped 7 mins of it. I was deeply saddened!

Overall, it was still a great day!

I am so excited....I just can't hide it...

Tomorrow, my family will head to South Carolina to hang out for a week with our families. I can't wait to be able to spend the whole week with the people that I love most. I am looking forward to this also because it will be a nice little break for all of us, especially since my schedule has been so crazy lately. Joni certainly deserves the time away because she is an awesome wife and mother. Because Anniston still cannot be around large groups of people, she ends up spending most of her time at home with the kids.

Our parents are also really excited. They are ready to hang out with their grandkids. I am pretty sure that I could call them and say that Joni and I were not coming and they would be ok with that, as long as Anniston and Brayden were still coming. I know that it is really not like that but they sure do love those kids. And so do I!

So, pray for us while we travel. Nothing can be as fun as driving with a 2 year old and a 6 mth old. I can't wait for the adventure!!

Just for the record, the last time I was this excited about a vacation, we had a baby premature in a strange town. Let's pray that doesn't happen again! If so, we will all be shocked!!

Smoking Section Please...

"If you want to win this world to Christ, you are going to have to sit in the smoking section. That is where lost people are found, and if you make them put their cigarette out to hear the message they will be thinking about only one thing: 'When can I get another cigarette?'"
-A quote from Organic Church by Neil Cole.

What a great quote! Of course it is not saying that everyone who smokes is not a Christian. It is saying that we have to go where lost people are and not always expect them to come to us. Also, we shouldn't focus on the symptoms but on the sin that plagues every person! Let's see them receive Jesus and then He will change all of those things!

6 months....already?

Yesterday was a pretty special day at the Lollis crib. Anniston was 6 months old yesterday. Now for a lot of parents, this isn't such a big deal. However, she has overcome a lot and is doing better than we could've ever imagined.

I spent some time yesterday reading the posts that I wrote in the days after she was born. It was a great reminder of what it is like to trust God with everything. You see, I knew that there was absolutely nothing that I could do to help the situation. I just had to sit back and wait on God to meet all of our needs. As always, God was faithful and went way above anything that I could have ever asked for. (I think the Bible says something like that: Ephesians 3:20) It was during that time that I had to be willing to trust Him, even if "everything was not ok". God really helped me to grow during that time in my life. More than anything, I learned to trust God!

Anniston is perfectly healthy! She got rid of her last monitor a couple of weeks agon and now weighs 13 lbs. Her biggest challenge now will be surviving living in the house with a 2 year old boy. She is such a miracle and has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. It is a good thing that she cannot talk yet because all she would have to do is ask and it would be all over!

That's Not Real...

Here's a great post that I just read by Craig Groeschel. Enjoy!

There’s a HUGE difference between these two phrases:

“That’s not real…” and “I don’t understand…”

People in the church world occasionally confuse the two. Whenever God does something new, many people often say, “It’s not real…”

“That’s not real worship.”
“They aren’t real Christians.”
“That’s not real community.”
“That’s not a real outreach.”
“He’s not a real pastor.”
“What they’re doing is stupid. That’s not real ministry.”
For example, I don’t understand how some twenty year olds relate.

I don’t have a myspace account (although I hear that myspace is on the way out).
I find it easier to talk on the phone than text.
I don’t know much about Second Life.
I don’t have a tattoo to show you.
I don’t hang out at Starbucks.
I’ve never played Halo.
I have deep relationships, but not the way many twenty year olds do. I can say: “They don’t have real community.” Or I can say: “I don’t understand.” If I admit that I don’t understand, maybe with some effort, I might learn something.

In the church world, too many Christians prematurely write off new ways of doing ministry with the phrase: ‘That’s not real…” Instead, maybe we should admit it’s something we don’t understand.

Maybe I’ll see you at Starbucks and show you my new stick-on tattoo.

I Love Weekends....

Lately, my schedule has been extremely busy. This makes me look forward to the weekend with even more anticipation. For the past month, I have had something to to every weeknight. I don't usually get home until after 8, which means I don't have time to hang out with my family. I have spent the last 2 days just hanging out with them. I haven't left the house, except to go to dinner last night.

Here are a few things that have made this weekend great:

1. Sleeping late yesterday.
2. Spending some time reading.
3. Playing kickball in the house. (I know I probably shouldn't teach Brayden this, but it was worth it to hear him laugh so much.)
4. Catching up on some of my favorite TV shows.
5. Taking care of a couple of projects that I have wanted to do around the house.
6. Being reminded that I am certainly not a 'handy man'. I am dangerous with some tools!
7. Giving Joni a break from taking care of the kids by herself all day.
8. NBA Allstar weekend. I can't wait for the dunk contest!!
9. Dinner with Jesse and Vinai Meesomboon. I love these people!

Just in case you care, I agree with JR about the ribs in Memphis. Cozy Corner is without question better than Rendezvous. You gotta go there!

Lessons from Nintendo...

I remember it like it was yesterday. The year was 1986. I can vividly recall opening my Christmas gifts and going nuts because I received the thing that I wanted most in life....a nintendo game system. I spent hours playing Super Mario Bros., Mike Tyson's Punchout, and Duckhunt. I loved every minute of it.

Then came the Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64 and now the Wii. Alot has changed in the last 20 years. The graphics are unbelievably better. The systems have gotten smaller. The games are discs instead of cartridges. You no longer have to be attached to the console thanks to wireless controllers. The video game industry is constantly reinventing itself.

This causes me to question, how different is the church in the last 20 years? I am not speaking about a specific church, but the church as a whole. How have we evolved to reach people that are far from God? It seems sometimes that the whole world is changing, except for what happens within the walls of the church.

Here is what I know to be true...the church must experience change to continue to reach people. We cannot sit back and let the world pass us by. The bottom line is that the population of hell is increasing every day. We have the most exciting news in the world, yet we seem to keep it to ourselves. We often fear becoming too "worldly" and miss out on huge opportunities to reach those that we say that we care about.

What about you? How are you promoting change in your life? Is God doing something fresh and new in you? If not, it is time for something to change! Let the Revolution start with you!!

V Day

Today is a strange day. It is Valentines Day and a Wednesday, so that makes it strange. On the day that you are supposed to spend some time with those you love the most, I will see Joni for about 43 seconds. Since it is Wednesday, I will be at CrossOver hanging out with some of the most amazing middle school students in the world. That means I will that Joni and I will have to have Valentines Day this weekend.

I personally think that Valentines Day is a really funny holiday. It is amazing to me how much people will go out of their way to make sure their husband/wife feel appreciated on this one day a year. Shouldn't that happen every day?

Just for the record: I have the most amazing wife in the world. Nothing makes me happier than to be able to spend time with her.

Failure...

One of my favorite quotes:
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the dame winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed!"

-Michael Jordan

Wii had some some fun!

Friday night, I had an experience that will forever change my life. Ok, well maybe not. My family went over to Dan and Diana Craddock's house. They just happen to be some of my favorite people in the entire world and we had decided to hang out a little and play his new Nintendo Wii.

If you haven't played one, stop what you are doing right now and find one to play. It is amazing! It will certainly change video gaming forever!

Apparently there are certain dangers involved in playing Wii. My arm was extremely sore all day yesterday! This lady got hit in the eye. Others have broken their TV. Check out all of the craziness here.

My mind is racing, trying to find a way to purchase one for myself. I am thinking of selling my xbox and my games. Anyone interested?

Intensity...

For the last 5 years, I have helped coach a high school basketball team. For 5 years, I have ended every season by swearing that I will never coach again. However, when basketball season rolls around, I can't wait to get back out there.

Last night, our team played one of the most intense games that I have ever been involved in. We played a really tough team from Bethlehem Baptist. We were behind the entire game and our guys seemed to lack the passion and desire to win. That all changed in the 2nd half. We tied the game with 2 seconds left in the game. Our guys played amazing!

In overtime, everything was clicking! We won the game by about 5 points. I have never been more proud and excited for our guys. We are now 3-1 and I really believe that we can win the league (if we play to our potential!)

Jesus?

Here's a CNN interview with a man that claims that he is Jesus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmC6LBpBUv4


What a psycho!! This makes me pretty angry!

TV rocks...

Before Tivo(Did that day ever exist? And how did we survive?), I didn't watch much TV because I knew that I would never be able to follow a show on a consistent basis. Now, my family has several shows that we watch together. It's how we spend some of our time hanging out together.

Last night, Brayden sat and watched American Idol. He was running around the house saying, "Idol. Randy. Paula. Simon." He was also laughing at the people on the show. I wonder how they would feel if they knew a 2 year old was laughing at them. Looks like we have a little American Idol junkie on our hands.

I am pretty excited about the return of Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Lost. I love me some TV!

In case you're wondering...

In case you are curious (although you couldn't probably care less) about who I am pulling for in the Super Bowl, I want Da Bears to win.

It really doesn't matter to me because I don't like or dislike either team. In this scenario, I have to result to rule 45 section 8 which states: In situations where you don't care about either team, pull for the underdog!

Oh yeah, I also have to pull for Da Bears because of these guys!

Enjoy the game!!

Free At Last...

The following is an excerpt from a great book...Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel. It is from a chapter on prayer. I hope you enjoy!

"If you feel insecure about your faltering prayer life, I've got great news for you: God is waiting. Right now. At this moment. He wants to reveal Himself to you, and He wants you to reveal your heart to Him.

Pray. Pray creatively, openly, honestly. Pray long. Pray short. Sigh. Sing. Dance. Cry. Shout. Pray in the morning. During the day and at night. Pray in the car, while working, while doing chores. Laugh with Him. Cry with Him. Experience His presence. Let your attitudes, thoughts, energy, focus, attention, desire, and love be directed toward the One who loves you. Like breathing air, allow moment-by-moment fellowship to become a way of life-starting this very moment. Go ahead. Communicate!"

Let It Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow...

So, we finally got a little of the white stuff last night. But only a little. In fact, it was almost gone by noon, which made me sad. I love snow!

I took Brayden out to play in the white stuff but he wasn't a big fan of it. We spent a grand total of about 10 minutes outside. He seemed to be more concerned about having the snow on his shoes than having fun. He is so OCD, probably a direct result of having such strange parents.

Other than that, I spent the day watching season 1 of 24. It is so strange watching the show without some of the great characters, like Chloe. I am trying to watch the whole 1st season, which is 24 episodes. That means Jack Bauer and I will be spending a lot of time together!!

Also, Joni and I are going out on a date tonight! I love hanging out with my wife. She is my best friend in the entire world!!

Let it snow...

We just decided to cancel the Wednesday night services and I am about to leave the offices. I love snow! I hope we get lots of it!! It will be so much fun to hang out with my family, read, play in the snow, and watch lots of TV. I cannot wait to get home! Enjoy.

3 Blind Mice...

Ok...maybe not 3. Ok, he/she is not blind. If that was the case, it would be much easier to catch it. This mouse is driving us crazy. We have seen it on several occasions and cannot seem to catch it. I put out some glue traps (w/ peanut butter) over the weekend. Stil no mouse. Any ideas about how to catch this thing?

He's Back and other random thoughts...

1. In October, Joni and I discovered we had an unwanted friend in the house. Chuck E. Cheese disappeared after a few days. In the last month, he has reappeared. I just put out new glue traps (w/ peanut butter) today. I hope we catch him!
2. I am still trying to recover from the robbery that took place at Cameron Indoor Stadium last night. Check out this article, where the ACC admits that Duke got some homecooking! Also, Tadd had some really funny things to say in his post!
3. It is 12:30am Saturday morning and I just finished reading some more of Simple Church by Thom Rainer, while I am waiting for Anniston to wake up and eat. This book is rocking my world!
4. No basketball game to coach this week or next week. Man, I miss it!
5. Just heard today that the pastor at FBC Daytona Beach just resigned. I don't know all the details, but it seems like the same crap that is happening at Bellevue. Great pastor serves there for many, many years. He retires. They hire a younger pastor with some fresh vision. People get angry because the new guy tries to move the church forward. They run their mouth and try to destroy the guy. To be honest, it just makes me sick!!
6. My boy Jeff Bumgardner has some big stuff coming up.
7. Joni and I went furniture shopping again tonight (sounds fun, right?) We got 3 small tables and a chair for $155. Another reminder not to buy on impulse. We replaced all of the furniture in our bedroom for under $600 (just a little more than what we got for our old stuff). We almost spent $1350 on a bedroom set. I love getting a good deal!
8. Steven Furtick's blog is well worth reading. Be sure to check out what he had to say on this past Thursday and Friday. He is tearing it up! It is exciting to see how God is using him.
9. Today, Brayden and I watched Cars and ate popcorn(@10am) and then I had to rescue him after he locked himself in the bathroom. He is at such a funny age!
10. For the 2nd weekend in a row, Joni and I went to dinner at Jim & Nick's BBQ. This place is unbelievable! You gotta try their cheese biscuits. Everything, yes everything, that I have tasted there has been off the hook!
11. I STINKING LOVE THE BLOGGING WORLD!

Well, it looks like Anniston is waking up. I am going to feed her and hit the sack...

Todd
jtlollis@hotmail.com

Risk

Here's a thought from the "Isn't She Beautiful", a conference celebrating the church at Mars Hill Bible Church. (Notes are provided by some guy named Longbrake.)

+the art of risk
//be willing to fail. and fail. and fail. the fear to fail is the fear to try. the church has become obsessed with putting on the perfect show for the world. there’s no risk. everything is safe. Jesus is not safe. christianity can be messy and hard and vulnerable. there’s risk in allowing ourselves to try, to create, to invite. i’d rather fail than be safe.

Anniston and CrossOver

Joni took Anniston to the pulmonologist and they freed her from her last monitor. We had been putting the monitor on her each night since she has been home from the hospital. It measured her heartbeat to let us know if it was too fast or slow. I am so grateful that she doesn't have any complications from being born so early.

CrossOver was pretty interesting tonight. The students seemed especially energetic, which usually translates into lots of frustration for the person on the stage. The night ended up going well and we had 2 students begin a relationship with Jesus! Not too bad!! Also, I challenged them to get rid of the secret sin in their lives and be 100% devoted to Christ. It was a pretty heavy night.

Show me the mammon?

As I was driving yesterday, I saw a church sign that said, " Choose : God or Mammon, Matt. 6:24". I consider myself to be at least a little knowledgeable about the Bible and I had never heard the word "mammon". Come to find out it means "riches or greed". I am sure that people were stopping in by the truckloads to admit they didn't want to choose mammon.

I have no idea why in the world you would put such a thing on your sign. I thought the purpose was that people might be able to read and understand it. We live in a strange, strange world! Oftentimes, it seems that the Christian people are the strangest of them all!!

In other non-related news, I saw this video in my office today with Jesse, David, and Kelsianne. I laughed so hard at the guy in the middle. (Give it a few seconds...it's worth it!) I certainly didn't know that a human could make such sounds!

Things I Learned this Weekend...

1. Never buy on impulse. Joni and I sold our bedroom furniture this weekend and needed to replace it. This is something that she has wanted to do for a couple of years. Finally, I gave in and we sold it in 1 day. As we were shopping for replacement furniture, it was tempting to spend more money than we should. We agreed to talk about it over night and ended up getting a pretty good deal. If we had bought on impulse, we would have spent 2 1/2 times what we got for our old furniture. (Not exactly a good trade!)

2. You never lose things that aren't important. As I was getting ready for church yesterday, I asked Joni where my ties were(all of our stuff is in boxes and suitcases until the new furniture arrives). She paused and said, "I never took them out of the old furniture." Now, this wasn't devastating to me because I am not much of a fan of ties. However, the world can sleep well because the lady returned my ties after church.

3. An appointment at a doctor's office means nothing. I took Brayden to the doctor this morning for an ear infection. We knew what the problem was but had to go get a prescription. Our appointment was at 10:20. We went back to see the doctor at 11:30. You figure that one out, I've tried!

4. No matter how hard you try, some people just don't get it! Sometimes there is a disconnect from the way people think things are and the way things actually are. There is a huge disconnect between Christians and those who do not know Christ. The sad thing is that many times people aren't willing to do what it takes to bridge the gap. That makes me sad!

TGIF!!!

I wonder if my life can get any busier? The past couple of weeks have been absolutely insane! I have literally had something going on every night during the week. It has been pretty exhausting and I am ready for the weekend. I can't wait for the opportunity to hang out with Joni, Brayden, and Anniston.

I thought I would share these pictures with you. Joni and I are not the best at taking pictures and getting them out to people. She took some this week and I thought you might like to see them. Brayden apparently has not discovered that the potty should not be used in the bathtub. Anniston is actually getting a little chubby, which I never thought I would say about her. After all, she was only 2lbs 9 oz when she was born. Soooo...have a great weekend and enjoy the pics!

By the way, we won our game last night. We looked really good and the rest of the season should be interesting! Our record is 1-1, but we are much better than that!

todd

jtlollis@hotmail.com

Game Deux

We play again tonight, as we attempt to rebound from our season opening loss. We were missing some key players last week, which didn't help us for sure. Tonight, everyone should be back. We must win tonight! We will win tonight!!

Blogging...I Can't Live Without It

Isn't it interesting how our world changes? I remember sitting in a room a couple of years ago and hearing some people talk about blogging. As I sat there, I was wondering if blogging was some type of disease or if they had a problem pronouncing some word. I had no clue what it was. Now it is something that I feel like I can't live without. I have to read them. I have to write them. I love the opportunity to give and receive information in that way. You can really get to know a person and how they think. You can discover the things that are important to them. You can learn stuff about people that you have never even had a conversation with. I love blogging. It has helped me to learn more about all sorts of things, including Jesus, leadership, technology, etc.

So, if you don't regularly read blogs....read them. If you are looking for an interesting way to express yourself to others...start blogging. You'll never be the same!!

Over the past couple of days, I have read a few entries that are must-reads. Check them out:
Perry Noble - A pastor from Anderson, SC. It is worth your time to read what he writes on a daily basis.

David Jacks - A senior at White Station HS and an intregal of the student ministry here at Crosspointe.

TV and Wednesdays...

This week brought about the return of 2 of my favorite TV shows: 24 and American Idol. As I watched them, I was reminded of why I love these shows so much! 24 happens to be the craziest thing on TV. I am pretty sure that I want Jack Bauer on my team. There isn't any situation that he can't get out of. As for American Idol, I love the first 3 weeks of the new season. It is so hilarious to see people that think they can sing. The problem is that their family, friends, and churches have not been honest enough to tell them that they can't! So, they make an idiot of themselves on national TV. I look forward to enjoying the new season of both these shows.

I know that this is not news to anyone, but today is Wednesday. Wednesday just happens to be one of my favorite days of the week. I look forward to hanging out with some of the coolest students and adult leaders in the world. I am excited because tonight we are going to take a look at this verse. We will talk about how we have to opportunity to experience God in a way that even Moses and the people in the Old Testament couldn't. I am looking forward to a great night!!

Also, Clemson plays UNC tonight. Pray hard...I would love for the Tigers to pull the upset!!

24...

I have waited for this day for a long time. It is the season premiere of 24, which happens to be the best show on TV. It kicks off with a 4 hour premiere: 2 hours tonight and 2 hours tomorrow night. Don't miss it! You'll be sad that you did!!

What time is it? GAMETIME!

Every year, I have made the same comment. Every year, I not been true to my word. Every year, I say that I am not coaching a basketball team next year. Every year, I end up coaching a team.

This will be my 5th year coaching the high school boys team at Crosspointe. I just can't let it go. I love the game. I love watching the faces of those guys when we win. I love experiencing the disappointment with them when we lose. I love challenging them to work hard and seeing their game progress.

Today is game #1 of the 2007 season. The expectation level is high. We have a championship to defend. Everyone will be striving to beat us. Everyone will want us to lose. People will get angry because we care about winning. (After all, who likes to lose? Winning is way more fun!)

So, it's GAMETIME! No more practices. No more wondering what our team will be like. Tonight at 7, it will be time to see what we've really got. We'll see what happens!

Todd
jtlollis@hotmail.com

Before the Curtain Closes...

I attended a funeral today and it really caused me to think. As I was sitting there, a curtain closed to allow the family a few more minutes together before the service began. It caused me to think about several things that I want to happen before the curtain closes on my life.

1. I want to live as long as possible. I have come to realize that this is going to take a strong commitment to my physical health. Not for just a few months or years, but a lifetime commitment to excercising and eating right.

2. I want my kids to know me, love me, and respect me. So many fathers are not there for their kids. Sometimes they are physically not there and sometimes their physical body is the only thing there. They are so disconnected. Since my childhood, one of my strongest desires is to make sure that I am a good father. I don't intend to let anything get in the way of that. I know a lot of guys that put ministry in front of their family. I plan to be very intentional about making sure that my family knows that they ALWAYS come before everyone else!

3. I want to love my wife and treat her like the amazing lady that she is. Some guys think that their wives are there to take care of the house, kids, etc. While Joni does all of those things, that is certainly not her job! I help out when I am at home. I do not expect her to take care of everything while I sit on the couch and watch TV. I am pretty biased, but I have the most amazing wife on the planet. At the lady's funeral, they talked about how her and her husband had been married for 50 years! What a legacy! I can't wait for the day Joni and I can look back and say the same thing. Nothing excites me more than to think about doing life with her.

4. I want to make a huge impact on this planet. For whatever reason, God chooses to use us in His great plan. He doesn't have to do so, He is God. He could certainly do it all alone. He allows us the honor of being a part of seeing people come to know Christ. My desire is that he would give me the opportunity to make a huge difference in this world. In my lifetime, I want to see God do amazing things and move in a way that hasn't ever happened before. I want to be right in the middle of what God is doing!

I could talk about these things all day long! What do you want to see happen before the curtain closes?

Todd
jtlollis@hotmail.com

The Last of the Mohicans...

After the tipoff for this basketball season, I could've never imagined that I would be writing this blog. There is only one undefeated team in all of Division I men's basketball. Do you know yet who it is? You guessed it...the Clemson Tigers. Who would have ever imagined that? They are ranked #14 in the latest poll. Let's hope they don't mess it up. Let's go Tigers...

Dear Church...

I just finished reading Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation by Sarah Cunningham. "No matter if you are young or old, pastor or church leader, Christian or someone who avoids the church altogether, this series of grippingly honest letters will give voice to your questions for the church. Dear Church will take you on a journey to look disillusionment in the eye, to reexamine the church and your own heart, and to sift through your frustration to find a renewed peace and commitment to Christ's mission."

This brutally honest book is certainly worth the time it takes to read it. Despite the church's mistakes, Cunningham helps us to realize that there is still promise of a greater hope. It would be wise for every pastor and church leader to read this book. It would certainly help them to bridge the gap with the younger generation, which seems so disconnected from church as we know it.

How I lost 70lbs in 2006 (and plan to keep it off)

It is that time of year. Everyone is talking about losing weight. The gyms are packed. Restaurants are selling more salads. Everyone in the world has a plan to lose that extra weight.

Last year, I lost 70 lbs. Yes, I said 70 lbs. I still remember the day that I stepped on the scales and weighed over 300 lbs. I lived life being constantly discouraged about my weight and had no idea what to do about it. This is something that I had struggled with my entire life. I had tried every diet out there. None of them were successful. Some appeared to be successful but as soon as I stopped the diet, I gained the weight back plus more.

Then I finally tried something that worked. It took a life change, not just a diet. I had heard people say this all my life and I had never believed them. I was going to be the exception to the rule. Here's the deal: I don't think there are exceptions to the rule. It takes determination. It takes sacrifice. It takes hard work. It takes life change.

Here are three things that I did to lose weight.

a. Eat Right. I have tried all kinds of diets that allow you to eat whatever you want. I tried Atkins, where I ate steak, wings, or cheeseburger patties every meal. The bottom line is that you have to eat right. In my opinion, the best thing to do is to count calories. I allow myself about 1500 per day. That means I eat lots of Lean Cuisines, which are about 300 cal. each.

b. Exercise. This was the part that I was never good at. I always tried to find a way around the exercise part. JR and I began running a year ago. (There was a lot more walking than running in the early days!) Now, we run at least 2 miles 4 days a week. Make up your mind. Put on your iPod and get your body moving. It is the only way to really lose weight. I never would have thought that I would love to run. I am addicted to the results. If I can do it, I believe anyone can!

c. Find an accountability partner. I think this is one of the keys to success. There will be days that you will not feel like eating right and working out. It helps to have someone who is as passionate as you are about losing weight. Trust me there were days that I wanted to give up, but it helped to have JR there to encourage me. Plus, no one wants to be the guy that just gives up and lets someone else down.

These are also the things that I will do to keep the weight off. They are also the things I will do to lose the rest of my weight. These are the things that I will do for the rest of my life!

I hope this helps!

Todd
jtlollis@hotmail.com

Things I Learned in 2006

I had planned to develop a list of some things that I learned last year. I decided to just share one of those things with you and develop the idea a little.

In 2006, I learned that GOD ALWAYS PROVIDES. I have told people this for years and this year I had to live it out. It blew me away to see how God has provided for my family. Obviously, my first concern after Anniston was born was for her health and Joni's health. God allowed both of them to be ok. Anniston is doing better than I could have ever imagined, especially for a baby that was born 3 months premature. She came into the world in a crazy way, but, now, I wouldn't have traded that experience for anything in the world. It caused me to have to depend on Him like never before. I learned more in those few weeks than I had my entire life about trusting God! In 2006, God provided us with good health.

God also provided for us in the area of finances. I am not the kind of guy that worries a lot about money. But I will have to confess that I was a little concerned about where the money was going to come from the pay the dr. bills. Anniston's stay in the hospital ended up costing $185,000. I don't know about you, but I don't have that kind of money stashed anywhere. We found out that we have great insurance that payed all but a very small portion. Then churches like Crosspointe, Cherrydale, and Oak Grove sent us money to help out. Individuals pitched in to help cover the costs. We walked away from the deal without it costing us anything out of pocket! I was in awe! Once again, God showed me that He always provides. He is always in control. Nothing catches Him off guard. We just have to trust Him with everything!

This experience, along with a few others, has allowed me to experience the grace of God in a whole new way. It is not hard for me to give back a small portion to God because I know that He has provided for me so many times in my life.

It seems that everywhere I turn, I am reminded that "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!" (Ephesians 3:20)

What seemed to be like a well-deserved (in my mind, at least) vacation turned out to be the greatest learning experience of my life!!

Anniston and Brayden Update

I haven't updated everyone in a while about Anniston. So...here we go. She is 4 1/2 months old and weighs 11lbs and 10oz. She is also 21 1/2 inches long. The awesome thing to me is that she has had no complications. We took her to the doctor last month to check out her development and they were pleased with her progress. She is exactly where she should be, if she would have gone full term. We are still keeping her at home most of the time to prevent her from getting sick. Thanks to everyone for praying for her.

Brayden just turned 2 in November and I don't know if there is a funnier kid on the planet. He is talking pretty well and the way he says things makes me laugh. For example, he couldn't say "snowman". He would say "new man". I like the baby stage, but personally I like being able to communicate with him.

Needless to say, I have the 2 most incredible kids in the world! I know you think little Ralph and Tina are cool, but they don't compare to my kids!!

Yes, I am alive...

Wow, our trip out of town was nuts. Good, but crazy. I spent very little time posting (obviously), checking email, and reading blogs. It seemed like as soon as I would sit down, it was time to go visit someone or go to a Christmas party. Don't get me wrong, I loved connecting with people I haven't seen in a while. However, it was very exhausting! I felt like I needed a vacation to recover from my time off!

Joni and I pretty much just hung around the house this weekend. We were invited to several parties, but decided it was best for us to stay at home to prevent Anniston from getting sick. So, we watched football and all of the boring countdown shows!

Yesterday was filled with football, friends, football, UFC, and more football!

Over the next few days, I will be sharing some things that I learned last year. 2006 was an interesting year. I feel like I learned a lot through some tough experiences. I am looking forward to this year with great anticipation. We'll see what God does in 2007! I can hardly wait!

Another Year....Another Clemson Disappointment

For a team that started the year 7-1, Clemson really did a great job of turning a great season into a disappointing one. I am not sure what happened, but I am thankful that the season is finally over. An 8-5 season is a far cry from what they should have been able to accomplish.

Of course, I should be used to this type of disappointment! It happens every year. Oddly enough, the football season has me excited about basketball season!

The Tigers are 14-0 so far this season. We'll see what happens when they start ACC play. They haven't been any good in basketball in a long time and I am ready for a good year. After all, I pull for the same team during basketball AND football season. (Although, the last sentence may appear to be a jab at those people who cheer for Miami during the football season and Duke during the basketball season, it was in no way intended to cause any harm!)