Pictures of Landon Max Jones
Here are some pictures of Landon Max Jones.? From Lyndall’s Facebook page–proud papa!? Times and life . . . they are a-changin’.? Enjoy!!
Welcome Davis Gray McKenzie!!
Our friends Daniel and Deanne McKenzie in Johnson City, TN just had a baby boy, Davis Gray, this morning at 5:20 a.m.? Weighing in at a big 9 lbs. 6 oz. and 22 inches long, he is doing great!? They had a long sleepless night last night and this morning to say the least.? Mom, Dad, and big brothers Clayton and Carter are doing well.? Congrats!!!
Welcome Landon Max Jones!
Landon Max Jones was born yesterday, May 29, 2008 at 3:22 p.m.? He was 7 lbs. 13.5 oz.? Kari is doing great!? Congratulations . . . your lives have changed forever!!
Pray for the Jones
Lyndall and Kari (Pyron) Jones are having a baby!!!? TODAY!!? 17 days early!? She was due to have their little boy on June 15th, Father’s Day, but he decided to come early.? Kari’s water broke about 4 a.m. and they rushed her to the hospital.? They will hopefully have a big (he’s a Jones boy, for crying out loud!) baby boy sometime this afternoon or evening.? We hope for Kari’s sake that he doesn’t tarry too long into the wee hours!? If you think about it during the day, pray for our friends Kari and Lyndall today.
“Oh, people will come. They will most definitely come!”
I once did a speech at Missouri State on one of the greatest movies of all time–Field of Dreams. If you haven’t seen it, crawl out from under your rock and watch it on TBS or rent it sometime!! The movie is all about family and the great game–BASEBALL. And yes, I totally recited James Earl Jones’ monologue about the greatness of baseball! It was definitely a piece of work indeed!
I say all that to say that Tucker, Taylor and I went by the ol’ alma mater Kickapoo High School on Tuesday night to watch the Ozark Tigers thump my Kickapoo Chiefs in the baseball sectional game. We are planning on going to the quarterfinal game against Holt in Ozark tonight! There is nothing better than being able to watch Taylor enjoy this great game and root hard for his teams! Go Tigers!
Also on the baseball note, my buddy Kurt Simon’s son plays varsity baseball for Rogersville who are also in a quarterfinals against Webb City. Hopefully we will have a great representation of very local teams at the Final Four at Meador Park in Springfield next week!! Good luck Tigers and Wildcats!!
P.S.–Taylor boy won the pop fly contest at the end of practice on Monday!! All that practice in the front yard is paying off buddy!! He won a pack of baseball cards! One of my good friends in high school, Kent Greve, is the coach and my former co-coach, Dan Kennedy, myself and several dads are helping Kent out. It is really fun to get to hang out with high school friends that have kids the same age. We won’t hold it against Dan that he didn’t have the blessing to go to Kickapoo and had to endure being a Glendale Falcon!! Just kidding Dan! Not!!
Movement in the Force
Some of you may have sensed a movement in the Force on Saturday afternoon. Our friend and former Worship Pastor, Dale Campbell and his beautiful bride, Di, made it “back home” from New Zealand to attend his sister’s wedding. I am really excited to get to see Dale and Di and hang out with them.
If you know Dale at all, you know that he loves hibachi grills, specifically, Fuji. We are eating tomorrow (Thursday) at Fuji at high noon. If you are available, come and grab a chair around the grill and hang out with Dale and Di. I think they are going to be at Finley Crossings on June 1st, so you might want to see them then! Good Day, Mate! To the American Kiwi!!
D Now–Northside Baptist Church, Neosho
Finally got back into town from Neosho, MO around 5:45 p.m. I was the speaker for a Disciple Now at Northside Baptist Church where my lifelong friend Lyndall Jones is Music and Youth Pastor. We had a really good weekend. I haven’t done a Disciple Now weekend in any capacity since we planted Finley Crossings. I used to do several D Nows each year when I was a full time student pastor. I actually had a lot of fun talking to the students and hanging out with the band.
Something that I thought about this morning during the invitation time was the impact that these kind of events has on not just students, but the leaders. There was an awesome group of students from the BSM at University of Arkansas that were leaders at each house. There were several times during the weekend that some of those student leaders as well as other leaders from the church were at the alter praying.
I remember some of the most powerful events in my life were not “for” me, but they were for “the kids,” but the Lord had something else in mind for me. How about you? What were some of the best things in your life to help you spiritually?
Here is a video slideshow I put together to go along with the sermon on Sunday. I love the lyrics to this song! Still work to be done in this city!!
Friday is for Friends
Friday is for friends. This Friday is for church planter, Marc Backes. He is planting Eternity, a new church in his home town of Jefferson City, MO. Check out the website here. You can check out his blog here.
Here is a great video prospectus he put together. Reminds me of our video 6 years ago, eh Brad??
Young Leaders Encounter
Jenny and I just got back from Arnold, MO and a retreat for young pastors and their wives.? The pastor at FBC-Arnold, Kenny Qualls and the Pastor of Outreach, Bob Caldwell really have a heart for young leaders.? Boy, did they show that heart over the last two days!!
First off, they fed us wonderful food the entire time.? Their volunteers were awesome to go above and beyond to serve everyone.? Second, they spent a TON of cash on us over the two days!!? They gave each of the wives a $100 gift card to the mall that they could use on one condition–that they HAD to spend the entire amount on THEMSELVES!? That was a HUGE blessing for Jenny as we have been working on our budget–or better yet, it is working on us!? Then they gave away gift bags to the ladies as well as the guys.? I personally think that the ladies got the better end of that bargain.? Ladies got Bath & Body Works bags and guys got a bunch of books–I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love books, but seriously, how about the gift card to Bass Pro??? I mean, the girls got to go to the mall and we got stuck back at the church getting beat up about what sorry husbands pastor are to their wives!? Just kidding . . . about the gift card, not how sorry we are–’cause we can sometimes (a lot of times) get our priorities out of whack.? They just kept giving and giving and giving.? I hope we can “grow up” to be that kind of place that cares for people like that!
It was really great to get away if even for just over 24 hours away.? We got to meet some new friends and fellow pastors.? It is one of those things that you don’t notice how tired, frustrated, worn out, unrealistic your view of the world, stressed out . . . you are until you go away for even just a brief time of R & R.? Isn’t it funny that we seem to take out the stress of life out on the people we love because we think they can handle it?? They can, for a while, but then it begins to break them down bit by bit.
Again, I am really thankful to the folks at FBC-Arnold who really care about pastors and especially their wives.? Bob Caldwell says that he thinks the pastor’s wife is the toughest, loneliest job on the planet–even much worse than the pastor.? I would have to agree!? I love you Jenny!? I hope you had a wonderful time away!
Have you hugged your pastor’s wife lately?? Make sure you do.? We have pastor appreciate month in October, but there isn’t a month set aside to honor the pastor’s wife.? Maybe that is because we should be doing it the whole year long?
Friday is for . . . Friends
This is a very sad Friday is for . . . installment. My friend and especially Taylor’s friend, Randy Towe was officially fired at the Nixa School Board meeting last night. Here is an article concerning the issue.
The problem we are dealing with is really at the core of what education and “extracurricular” sports are all about.