Your Local Grocer

When it comes to shopping for groceries - there is only one store for me. Bloom. People tell me that Bloom’s prices are high. I don’t really disagree - Bloom may cost a few cents more on pretty much every thing in the store. And yes - a few cents here and a few cents there will add up to dollars and dollars. You can probably go to Ingle’s, Bi-Lo, or Quality Foods and save 10 or 15.

Here are a couple reasons why I will gladly pay the extra money to shop at Bloom.

1. Every month - we get a coupon in the mail that is for $10 off any purchase over $35. So even if it does cost an extra $10 to shop there - you get it back each week.
2. The organization is right on. I can go in that store and everything is organized in a logical manner. Not like Big Lots where everything is everywhere - and you can’t find anything. Even Bi-Lo and Ingle’s gets me flustered. As a matter of fact - I went to Quality Foods to get bread one time and walked around the whole store and left without ever finding the bread.
3. Cleanliness. I am not a clean freak or a germ freak by any stretch of the imagination - but Bloom is just a clean and nice environment.
4. Sushi. Bloom has a pretty good selection of sushi. It makes for a good light lunch or an interesting date night at home.

That is my short list. Bloom is just a better place to shop. I feel old (or like a dork) talking about a grocery store in a whole post. What about you? What is your favorite grocery store?

Iced

If you are looking for a good place for dessert - go to Iced. I am not afraid to admit that I went to a cupcake cafe and enjoyed it. The cupcakes are delicious. Sure - it is $3 for a cupcake. But we go to Starbucks and spend $3 on a cappuccino or Cold Stone and spend $4 on a “like it” sized ice cream.

And I am not opposed to either place. I am just saying that we will pay three or four dollars for ice cream or coffee - why not a cupcake? It really is good. I promise.

Contemplating (blog)Suicide

Like a lot of things in my life - I have seemingly lost interest in my blog. Blogging became a part of my life - a big part. Everyday - I read and would try to find ways to make my blog better. But lately - all I have felt about my blog is pressure. I haven’t written anything lately. I haven’t even really wanted to. When I do think of things in my life to blog about - I put it off and it never gets here. I don’t blog because I don’t want to but feel bad that I am not writing. This should not feel like an obligation. This should be something I enjoy. And honestly - I contemplated blog suicide (deleting my blog).

But - I am going to press on. I will continue to inform you of random awesomeness. And I will post consistently again.

No Thumb?

My friend Mark Nothum will kill you. Watch what he does to this kid.

not me…

This was a rather busy week for me.  I finished last week feeling like I was on top of things.  I started this week feeling behind.

I started the week with an idea of what I wanted to talk about on Wednesday night.  I had planned things and was very confident on what my message was going to be.  I started writing and got pretty far.  Then God stopped me and said - “No.”  I scrapped what I had and started again.  I didn’t realize how much God was telling me while I was writing and preparing for LINC.  Really - it wasn’t until I was finished and actually thinking back to what I had talked about.  I walked away feeling very confident and feeling like everything came out and flowed together.

And then I started to think about what I talked about.  At that point I realized - I didn’t plan this.  I didn’t write this.  Technically - yea, I did write it.  But I don’t know where this came from.  I was completely lost for what to talk about.  I didn’t know where I was really even going until Monday afternoon.  It was God - he did it.  Not me.

It really gives me confidence and joy to look back and say that God wrote that message.  All glory and honor and praise belongs to God.

Lucky

Every Tuesday morning - we have our weekly staff meeting.  At the beginning of the meeting - Cliff prayed.  During his prayer I realized what I am doing.  I realized that I was in a staff meeting.  I realized that my job is to serve God.  Literally - my job is to teach, hang out with, disciple, and love students.  And in the midst of all of that - my job is to serve God.  I am extremely lucky.  Sure - I am not making millions.  But God is giving me joy and purpose.

I have found my calling and am extremely happy with what God is doing in me.  Have you found yours?

Have I “Been With Jesus?”

Dustin and Beau have started a conversation about the difference that takes place when someone has “been with Jesus.”  First off - read what they had to say and think about it.  Read Acts 4:13.  And now think about your life.  Do people, regardless of their faith, notice that you have been with Jesus?

That is my new goal in my social and everyday life.  I want people to look at me and hear me talk and be able to say - “That guy has been with Jesus.”

I am going go spend some time with Jesus.

Do Work

First off - I don’t really know where I have been.  I always feel obligated to apologize or explain why I haven’t blogged any time that I get slack.  I am not going to do that today.

This week we are starting a new series at LINC.  I am really excited about it.  It is called “Do Work.”  I am very pumped about this summer.

This summer is going to be filled with several opportunities for our students to “do work.”

Secondly - check out Tyler’s message.  This website is sweet.  Divide the Sea made me a (real) fan on Saturday night.  Ben has started a blog.  And this game is so addictive.