I had a terrific weekend with my sweet wife Kathy up in Lookout Valley, TN!

What an awesome place!
Reminds me of Kenya in the rain forest!

Had kind of rainy weather for part of the stay. Hung out in bookstores when I couldn’t be outside.

Saw Raccoon Mountain this trip. Beautiful place.

Had some terrific hikes at Reflection Riding Nature Center.

Drove back to Atlanta in the rain this afternoon.

GREAT to be home. Kids are doing awesome!

Saw this outside my door.

The whole family had Thai food together at Yum Yum Thai in Tucker.

J and I thought it was just ok. It was fun to spend time with the girls!

After lunch, we went to Kroger to pick up supplies for the outreach event at Oak Forest this weekend.

Should be some great Hip Hop music going on, and all for Jesus!

Then Jesse and I went up to Roswell to set up the logistics for three block parties. We established relations with the new management at Roswell Creek, which used to be Point Ridge apartments.

I took Dave Fast, the leader from Fellowship Bible Church there as well as to Concept 21–Roswell, and Aspen Point. I think that’s going to be a great partnership and on going ministry!

It was bad traffic time, so we hung out in Roswell and went to the pet store.

I think this toy may be classified in the Department of Redundancy Department.

TREMENDOUS rain this evening. I drove about 50 miles in just blinding, torrential, hurricane like rain all the way from Alpharetta to Stone Mountain! We probably got over 3 inches.

When that happens, we get a little stream that comes into our basement. Bahd luck. We tried to stuff clay and rocks in the spot where it was coming in. I dried up bucket loads of water.

I was outside digging trenches away from the house. Soaked to the skin.

Anyway, everything’s cool. Just a little more excitement than we needed. Floods and Fire. Just another day in our household.

Jesse and I met up with my Buford Highway NAMB missionaries: Ian & Ruthie North and Bayo Otiti! We had a great lunch and fellowship together! It was also fun to have Bennett Ekandem with our group. He was meeting with Bayo, a fellow Nigerian.

We got together to meet the new Director for our furniture ministry partner, Movers and Shakers. It was awesome to meet Marlene Haller. I think she’s going to do a great job for that dynamic organization.

Jesse and I took Bayo back home and I helped him set up a blog on Blogger, which is Google’s blog writing application. It’s really easy to use and FREE! My favorite four letter word.

Then to Walmart to pick up some supplies for the mission at Huntington Terraces. It poured down raining there!

Finally, over Willow Branch for Jesse to teach his guitar class.

I helped kids with homework. Finding function of (n). A real headscratcher.

It was good to see some other partners there.

I liked this bumper sticker.

And how about this tiny caterpillar that was hitching a ride on my car door. About an inch long!

This morning Jesse and I met up with our partner Keith Harrell at Nesbit Elementary School. We had a good discussion with Janet, who does social work there. There are many opportunities to help the kids who live at the missions. I’m looking forward to expanding our influence into other communities.

After our meeting we spent a little more time with Keith Harrell before he had to go back to work at Lilburn Elementary. He’s a great role model for the kids that go to school there.

I worked on setting up the locations for the Compassion in Action weekend.

I’ve talked to my team leaders about it several times, but today was the first day I really felt secure about talking to managers about the event.

We went by Valencia Park to meet with the management there.

It’s a beautiful campus. They’re one of the complexes we’ll be working at on October 5th.

Still have two that I need to follow up on. I’ve been trying to get a hold of our team first.

Jesse and I went to Azalea to help the kids.

Steadily growing group.

Came home and ran 4 miles.

Saw this at Ace hardware. Not sure if I want a soldier as a yard ornament.

And what color is this?

Now working on email/admin stuff.

Full day today! I’m a little bit sore. I decided to push down a couple of dead trees in my front yard. I felt like Conan.

Kathy and I went to church to hear one of my favorite preachers, Phil Kitchen.

He did a great job preaching a series on truth!

After church Kathy took me to the zoo. We usually get a membership once every three years or so.

Spent some great time with the Clouded Leopard. Incredible!

Also really enjoyed watching the Gorillas.

The zoo had a new exhibit of parakeets. Super cool! Flew all around you!

Beautiful plants at the zoo!

Then to Stone Mountain. Enjoyed relaxing in the hot tub. Then hiked around the quarry side of the mountain. Awesome!

Walked about three miles in all.

This morning I taught a class to the Gwinnett Neighborhood Leadership Institute. It was a two part, hour long seminar on communication.

First I do my presentation where I transport them to Cambodia. That gives people an idea of what it’s like to be an immigrant.

In the second half hour I do a study on Neuro Linguistic Programming with an emphasis on Matching and Mirroring people. I also do a brief overview of body language and some things to watch for.

The last five minutes I lead them through a relaxation and visualization exercise which helps cement the learnings in their mind.

Fun! Crowd seemed to love it.

I do very few secular events. They’re fun from time to time.

Came home and watched the season finale of Lie To Me with K.

Working on my admin work now, pix from the conference, email. . . .

Took K and J to gyros. Bought a slice of cake from this to give to Ashley!

K was still sad about 9/11.

Great day!

This morning I worked on phone calls. Always try to keep up to date.

Worked on my presentation for the Gwinnett Leadership Initiative tomorrow morning.

Some guy ran over the trees at El Toreros.
Big pole on the ground.

Jesse and I tracked down a couple of things for the aquarium.

Came home and ran 4 miles.

Working on a new book called BetaPrayer. I always enjoy creating.

Today I had the super blessing of my whole family and my brother Bayo!

We met up in Tucker at a place I’ve never been to: Grecian Gyros.

Apparently, the place has been around Atlanta for nearly 20 years! My girls like the place, buy J and I had never been there. A new food fave!

After lunch, Kathy took Jesse on home, he’s still not feeling that great.

Ashley, Bayo and I went over to FBC Atlanta to say thanks to the missions department. They’re helping us out financially. PTL!

We went to FBC Doraville to pick up some clothes I had for Bayo’s mission at Huntington Terraces. Also talked to one of my partners, Deborah Hayes, who runs the Pregnancy Resource of Doraville. One of my volunteers might be able to help her. Always like to network!

Ash and I went to Azalea to help the kids with their homework.

Some of them have the most nasty mouths.

I bought a few little things for Jesse’s aquarium. Looking better!

What’s the secret to this?

Suck in your gut?

Been studying on prayer and doing a lot of it lately. Sick wife and Jesse.

Went for a 4 mile run this morning.
Checked out my office at FBC Doraville.

Over to Azalea this afternoon.

I liked Angel’s new shoes.

Jesse wasn’t feeling well. He did get his fish tank going!

Yesterday, one of our neighbors cut down some trees in his yard. He said he was tired of the gumballs. I understand that!

Still, I don’t cut down healthy trees.

Jesse felt well enough to go with me this morning to meet with one of my partners from FBC Duluth, Tandy Brennan.

We got to know each other when I was one of the speakers for the Deacons of their church. We had a fun time together then and today too! I’m really looking forward to speaking at their church soon!

From lunch we worked on getting some equipment for Jesse’s fish tank. I thought this was a funny picture!

After being out for those hours, he started feeling bad again, so we came on home. Gotta take care of my wing man!