I was raised in Southeast Texas and I remember one time when I was around 12 that we had snow that stuck.  It was a dream for a kid to be able to play football in several inches of snow.  I lived there all my life and we had snow like that 1 time. 

I recently moved to the Ozark Mountains (Rogers, Arkansas) and we have been excited to make our first snow man.  As a matter of fact, Hannah woke up in the middle of the night a couple of days ago, crying to go out and make a snow man.  I ensured her that in a couple of days we would have some snow to build one.

We are in the mountains and guess who got the snow?  Where we just moved from, in the hot south.  Below are some pics from Southeast Texas and the snow they received.  I am a little jealous that they got the snow, but I have a hunch that it won’t be much longer until we get some.  Not to mention, I am sure that by winter’s end I will be tired of the snow and the cold.

Every Thursday I work from my study at home.  I didn’t know how it would work out but I have grown to love it.  In an 8 hour day at home, I can get a great deal down.  Less distractions and it gives a change of scenery.  I wouldn’t work at home every day but one day a week gives a good break and I look forward to the day for planning and preparing for the future of our church. 

In my office at church, I notice so many things that I need to do.  At home, however, it seems on Thursdays my creativity rises and ideas flow.  Many leadership experts have said that it is good to change the scenery at least twice a month to allow for a different setting.  They say that this different setting gets you to thinking in a different way.  I am fortunate to have a study at home that I can go to. 

If you get in a rut and your creativity stops flowing, try a change of scenery.  Spend a day at the library or some other place that you can spend some time thinking and planning.  You will find that it benefits you and your ministry.

The last few days I have been working my way through John Maxwell’s book Leadership Gold: Lessons I Have Learned From A Lifetime of Leading.  This is by far probably the best leadership book I have read.  Maxwell lays out some incredible wisdom for becoming a better leader.  I am about half way done and I have gleaned some great quotes so far:

“Some people will attend a conference and their lives will start to turnaround. Others will come and tune out everything I say.”  From The Chapter: Don’t Send your Ducks To Eagle School

“There’s nothing wrong with ducks. Just don’t ask them to soar or hunt from a high altitude. It’s not what they do.”  From The Chapter: Don’t Send your Ducks To Eagle School

“The team can make adjustments when it knows where it stands.  In other words, reality is the foundation for positive change.  If you don’t face reality, then you will not be able to make necessary changes.”  From The Chapter: A Leader’s First Responsibility Is To Define Reality

“A time of turbulence is a dangerous time, but is greatest danger is a temptation to deny reality – Peter Drucker” From The Chapter: A Leader’s First Responsibility Is To Define Reality

“The best leaders are highly intentional about developing t ehir people.  But good or bad, leaders always impact their people.  And if you want to know whether a leader is successful and effective, don’t look at-or listen to-the leader.  Simply look at the people.”  From The Chapter: To See How The Leader Is Doing, Look At The People

“Leaders may impress others when they succeed, but they impact others when their followers succeed.” From The Chapter: To See How The Leader Is Doing, Look At The People

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This morning, my dad, Josh and I went to Hobbs State Park for a hike.  It was a mile and a half trail in the Ozarks.  We had a great time and I got some great pics.  It is always great to be out in nature and I always come away with a renewed sense of awe for our Creator.

Friday evening my parents came in for a week’s stay.  It was great to see them and we look forward to a good visit together.  There is a slight problem with the grandparents visiting though, we have been replaced.  Usually in the mornings Hannah wakes up calling for Danny, but now she wakes up asking for MiMi.  When I walk into the house, she no longer runs down the hall calling out Danny, in fact she no longer runs down the hall.  I have been replaced by her grandparents.

It is only day three now, but it seems that I no longer exist.  Sonya and I are not needed anymore because of these relatives that have come for a week’s stay.  I wonder now if Hannah loves me anymore.  One of the good things however, is when Hannah dirties her diaper she cries for MiMi to change it.  But let’s get back to my pity party.  Why is it that parents are so easily replaced by grandparents?  They give her what she wants and now I look like the bad guy.  Now, I am kicked to the curb and unwanted.  At least they are only staying a week:)

How often do we feel unwanted in our lives?  How often do we feel cast away or that no one cares about us?  I am jesting about Hannah and her grandparents but there are many people who actually experience rejection and hurt.  There are a great deal of people who have felt like outcasts and feel unloved.  It is hard to find joy and peace when you feel these ways, but there is a God who loves the out casts and loves the unloved.  No matter what heartaches you find in this world, you can count on a God who knows where you are and knows you by name.  Next time you feel unwanted, remember that God wanted you, that is why He created you.  You will never be replaced, you are the apple of His eye.

On Bro. Maynard’s blog he shared some amusing ponderings.  I have often thought many of these things and I wanted to share them with you.

* Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii?
* Why are there flotation devices under plane seats instead of parachutes?
* Why are cigarettes sold in gas stations when smoking is prohibited there?
* If a 7-11 is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, why are there locks on the doors?
* If a cow laughed, would milk come out her nose?
* If nothing ever sticks to TEFLON, how do they make TEFLON stick to the pan?
* Why do they put Braille dots on the keypad of the drive-up ATM?
* Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways?
* Why is it that when you transport something by car, it’s called a “ship”ment, but when you transport something by ship, it’s called “car”go?
* You know that little indestructible black box that is used on planes, why can’t they make the whole plane out of the same substance?
* Why is it that when you’re driving and looking for an address, you turn down the volume on the radio?