Vegas Recap

Day #1
Afraid to miss alarm
Little sleep
Early morning
Pick up Dan
Fill-up car with gas
Drive to airport
Board plane
Call Karen
Cramped legs
Reading transcripts
Study Galatians 3
Journal
Watching Bourne Identity on iPod
No free water on plane
Arrive in Vegas half-hour late
Call Karen
See Loren
Big smile
Bigger hug
Deanna's great cooking
Arrive at Central
Sit in Jon's office
Talk shop
Meet pastors
Observe class
Talk shop
Sad news
Drive to the Strip
Walk through casinos
Top of Eiffel Tower
Ignore "handouts" on Strip
Turn down immoral offer
Watch fountains at Bellagio
Return to house tired
Eat food
Fall asleep before head hits pillow

Day #2
Wake sooner than want
Migraine developing
Snow on mountains in Vegas
Great coffee
Awesome breakfast
Deal or No Deal (Tivo)
Arrive at Central
Purchase books in bookstore
Tour building
Talk shop
Mexican food for lunch
Migraine gone
Drop off at airport
Big hugs
Sad goodbyes
Promise to return soon
Long wait in security
Call Karen
Finish Bourne Identity
Buy snacks and drink for plane
Board plane
Cramped legs
Read Sex God
Listen to Perry Noble podcast
Arrive in Peoria 20 minutes early
Call Karen
COLD walk to car
Drop Dan off
Arrive home
Check email
Read blogs
Post blog
Going to bed

Traveling Light

Dan Baker and I are heading to Vegas tomorrow morning for a whirlwind two days of networking, observing, and meetings. We leave tomorrow around 8:30am and will be returning on Thursday around 10:00pm. I'm traveling light... one change of clothes, a notebook, my Bible & journal, and my iPod.

I am really looking forward to learning once again from Jon, Chris, and some of the rest of the crew at Central Christian Church. And I get to stay at the Trethewey B&B and have some of Deanna's amazing biscuits-and-gravy!

Keep us in your prayers...

100 Things You Need to Know About Me (31-40)

Alright, so I've taken some time off from the 100 Things You Need to Know About Me. I've been traveling...spending time with my family...attending conferences...getting things done at Great Oaks. I've been busy...give me a break!!!

I'm still looking for some input on themes for the remainder of the list. Let me know what you want to know about me.

31-40 :: Trips and Travels

31. One of my favorite vacations ever was a week-long cruise with Karen the year we owned the Dairy Queen. The only downside was when Karen was offered drugs in Jamaica.
32. My other favorite vacation was my honeymoon...enough said.
33. I have a wish-list of places I want to go including the Grand Canyon, Ireland, Machu Picchu (there is a great 3-day backpacking trail that leads to this amazing city), Europe, the Swiss Alps, Glacier National Park, Alaska, and the New England region of the United States (in the Fall).
34. I have to stop often for bathroom breaks when on road-trips. More often than Karen or the kids...
35. I used to make my peace with God before every flight.
36. On a flight with my son, a friend of mine who is an air-traffic controller was able to get the captain to personally say "Hi" to Ethan over the intercom.
37. I have always expected to run into somebody I know in an airport. It has never happened until leaving from O'Hare this past Sunday. Bill & I ran into a member of Great Oaks who was leaving for a trip to Brazil.
38. I don't fit in most airplane seats. As a result, I get really frustrated when someone in front of me leans their seat back. On really long flights, that doesn't make me a happy boy!
39. While in Boy Scouts I took a week-long canoe trip in Boundary Waters. It was one of the greatest wilderness trips I've ever done.
40. During a 2-week solo trip, I ended up in Washington D.C. and was threatened with arrest by a really angry police officer.

Heading to SoCal

Bill & I are heading to Southern California today for the Exponential Conference at Saddleback Community Church. I am looking forward to finally seeing this church for myself. I'll keep you posted on take-aways from the conference...

Viva Las Vegas!

I am heading to Vegas this Saturday for a behind-the-scenes look at the ministry structure and philosophy of Central Christian Church. I will be spending an entire day with their staff of small groups pastors as well as some one-on-one time with a couple of different leaders from the church. I will keep you posted on what I learn!

Can't wait to stay at the Trethewey Bed & Breakfast and spend extended time with some great mentors in both ministry and marriage!!!