How you doin?

I am overlooking the Grand River today. It is amazing what you see up here. People are crazy driving across that bridge. I love it when I hear a horn honk. It is one of two things: I believe it is my fan club just saying hi - both positively and negatively. Because there is an increase in honking, I know the fact that I am a bridge operator is getting around. I like it when people wave and honk. I would like remind some that they need to wave with their WHOLE hand not just one finger. That you, Dennis Jackson for reminding all of us of that fact.

Did that camping thing this weekend with the Boo. It was so much fun. Within 1/2 hour we had the camp set and ready for fire. So we jump in our swimming attire and headed off to the pool. Becca is part fish - no really I am convinced somewhere in her background is a mermaid. In and out up and down. She had a great time. I thought I may as well jump in. Right? Holy cow, Batman. THAT WATER WAS FREEZING. Do you think that fact came up while talking to Becca? NOOOO! I am often amazed at the intestinal fortatude (that was for Gooch and Deur) that kids have. Their ability to adapt and adjust not only physically but mentally or socially.

Did I mention I met my neighbors camping? talked about life, camping, the weekend. We shared some smores. Talked alittle about Jesus (hey - they brought it up). By the end of the two days, I think I had the opportunity to pray with a couple of them about things in their life.

Which again brings me to the point that I know I have brought up several times. Look for the opportunity to get to know someone. Share part of your life, your story. Look for God to move and then walk thru the door. I am sure it was alittle awkward for them when I started talking. It was for me. Yet God provided an opporunity to talk, get to know, and influence. Now I do not know what will happen as a result. I know this: I was able to plant some seeds. I pray God will not let the seeds die. Only He knows the outcome.

Sign off from the Bridge
C

The long weekend is here.

I had a great fire side session the other night Jeff and Gooch. I love these guys because we are like minded on lots of issues. We challenged eah other in areas we need to be challenged in. One of the areas is in reading scripture. Guy, I have such a rebellious spirit this way. Once I start reading , it is great. I am walking away with some new to chew on and think about. And i that process, God speaks. The problem is I hate actually sitting down and doing it. I know what you are thinking. Goodness, you are 38 years old, grow up and get it done.

I totally agree.

Jeff and I really feel like the time is now to launch our ministry idea. We have been baking this idea for quite some time and it is finally taking shape. If we are all ministers, what does that look like for you? Your spouse? Your family? Your extended family? Your job? What does that look like. We are convinced that our passion for the next generation is growing more and more. Jeff has a burning passion for youth pastors and leaders, local mission, and serving the community. I have a passions for worship and technical excellence and the emerging church. We both have a passion for the lost. I know I am "skiming" over detail. Jeff and/or I would love to talk to anyone who is more interested in detail.

I guess we have really bought into the Watermark philosphy. You are a minister. Go and "be the church".

I am rambling. I guess what I am saying, and have said before, is this - watch for the opportunity. God will provide the right time, the right person in the right place for you to develop relationships. If we watch how Jesus handled things, he listened; he prayed; he interacted; he served; he provided leadership and vision; he taught; he touched people lives with his message: God is relentlessly pursuing us. He wants to be in right relationship with us.

More thoughts later,
C-man

What a beautiful day?

I am in the tower today. Unbelieveable! there is a slight breeze and the sun is shining. I love watching traffic - water and autos. I turned down a trip on the Lake this morning. Jeff and Tim - friends for long time - were out on the "pond" this morning. I am glad I did. I was sick this morning bad.

This was the first time the cat - Tigger - saw me sick. It is pretty funny, now. Then it wasn't. He could not figure out what was happening. Tigger is an interesting cat. He does some amazing things. More later.

I mentioned eariler I am reading a new book. The book is good. It has helped me focus some things differently. Which always puts me in an evaluation mode. Time is such a precious commodity. We crave more of it and there is only so much. I was conversing with a friend of mine the other day. We were talking about her daughter who just started the 9th grade at a new school. I say new only because it is a different location and different schedule. She was telling me about the summer and the things they were doing together. I could not help to think where did the summer go? What am I doing to make an eternal difference with my own daughter and family. I hate these times in my life because yes it is necessary to go thru but is a painful process.

I am regrouping right now. New job; new cat (well not so new but new experiences); new place to live; My schedule is out of control. Help I have fallen and cannot get up. What? Sorry about that. With the new job, I have alot of time to reflect. God has been showing me new things. It is good. more later.

Well, I need to get back to work.

Plans for the weekend? Make sure you spend it with family and friends.

C

School is back in session

I have been receiving several emails this week from people confessing this: we are so happy school is back in session. I do enjoy the school year. There is a routine to it and a schedule. There is a rhythm.

I hate what it does though. It takes up so much time during the work week. School and homework and extra curricular...do not get me started. Becca's mom and I have be extremely conscience of the amount of time Becca spends outside the classroom. I am convinced she is a better person because we monitor it so heavily.

You may ask why is this coming up? Well, let me tell ya. Gooch gave me a new book to sink my teeth into. Not really; i don't chew on books. So far it is pretty good. The premise is changing up chaos for connected relationships. Now I have not gotten too far in yet - so don't quiz me Gooch - but what I have seen thus far looks great.

Take time; spend with the important ones in your life.

Uncle Carter

good morning

Hi all

it is 5:30 am on Saturday. I am in the tower. It is raining to beat the band. Being here is awesome. The lighting and thunder are huge. And the rainfall is deafening. Pretty darn cool. The emergency power came on and everything lit up like a Christmas tree.

I am working the late shift. Our shifts rotate around so no one person has to do the "graveyard" shift. I am ok with that as I would be the one harnested to this shift. Low person on the totem pole syndrome.

As I sit here, I wonder how big God is. Big enough to control everything in every time all the time. And yet small enough to have a personal relationship with me. How is that? I guess I will need to banter that one around with people smarter than me like Deur, Thompson, Kiwi or even my daughter.

Tomorrow is one of my nephew's birthdays. The theme for the party is pirates. I called him and asked if we needed to like or talk like pirates. He humored me and laughed. It will be a good time of meeting with family. I cannot wait.

Well that's all for now.

C

great thoughts

Check out Quiet Riders thoughts for today.

Made me think....twice.

Out.
Carter

It is a strange feeling...

Getting ready to start another job. There is the weird couple weeks from the time you give notice until the departure date. Then there is the cleaning out of the office. That is weird too. Someone once told me - make your hellos long and your goodbyes short. There is some truth in that.

Needless to say, God is in control. How much control??? That is the eternal question. I have a habit of taking charge and running with the "ball". How out of control is that? Yet, He remains there; loving me and bringing back to the center point - where I am happiest and know I need to be.

Spent some time with the Johnson's last night. It is always good to touch base and be. Last nights conversation revolved around what's next? the job; the new place; new school year; new parenting schedule; finances; etc. Oy!

Had a great programming meeting with Gooch and Pot. I love Monday afternoons. It is a great talk of vision and creativity. I really enjoy that contribution. We have some really cool gathering times coming up.

Did you hear Watermark is launching a new service? Excitement abounds as news gets out. God just keeps reinventing Watermark; reshaping; reimagining. I love it. Can we all keep up that is the question?

One last question...where has the summer went? I cannot believe that Becca starts school VERY, VERY soon. She is growing up to fast. I was talking to Becca's mom the other day and reflecting on the last 10 years and how quickly it has gone. Unbelievable.

Well, that's my thoughts for the day.

Out,
Carter

New Books

Hi all

Great Weekend!!!!!!!!!!!

I have added a couple new books. One is the Making Room For Life from Randy Frazee. Both Deurty and Gooch and Gooch's wife recommend read it. With that high powered recommendation, how can I go wrong?

The second is the One Year Chronological Bible. It is the bible laid out how it happened with time as the filter. Pretty interesting. For my accountibility guys, we decided to read and hold each other to the task. It is difficult because of the discipline thing. I always struggle with discipline. Yuck!

More later,
C

I have a new job

Yes it is with some regret I gave notice today at my current employer. I have been struggling with some issues for a while and I believe God has brought another job along for a purpose.

Before you all get really curious, I am going to be working as a bridge operator. Not just any bridge, but the bridge that spans the Grand River on US31 in Grand Haven. Yes, it is true. I have been already titled the Bridge Troll. Which also makes me low man on the troll pole. I trained for it and am now a certified bridge operator. I was speaking with a friend who commented that I am fulfilling a dream that most people have had since they were 9 years old. I am operating the bridge.

Pray for me. The bridge has a huge feeling of power to it. I stop traffic. I let boats thru. I could leave it open. It is a feeling of control I have never felt before. In all seriousness, it does provide some things that are lacking in my life. Like an opportunity to study or read. The time is not always that demanding while there. So there is some down time. That is good.

I am looking for another place to live. That is the next hurdle.

Nothing too much else at this point.

Out for now.
The Troll

Enough

Hi all. Sorry for the delay in transmissions.

The Weekend. There are several items I think were great about the summit. Most all the speakers were great to hear. I wished I could have heard TD Jakes. I had to leave early and missed him, but I heard he had a lot to say.

My take away was on the practical sides of things. These were issues I have heard before in other applications. So there was nothing new to me. But good solid reminds about things. Like for example you are what you read. There is only so much time. Red the good books. Another was take a minimum of 30minutes a day to read. 10 minutes with periodicals. 20 minutes for good solid books. Excellent. I do not do enough of that. One other was motivation of people. The psychology of how people are wired. What buttons to push?

The best part to me was the time I spent with the team. Catching up and discussing the summit and how it was impacting our lives. There was a session where we got together and hammered somethings out. It was awesome to see how God was moving among us.

More later,
C

Willow Conference

I am sooooo excited. The leadership summit is tomorrow and I am going. I have been praying that God will bless this time in a unique way. I am looking forward to some great things.

More on that later.
Carter

Is this blog worthy?

I don't know. But thought I would post it anyway.

GENDER OF OBJECTS

1) Ziploc Bags: They are Male, because they hold everything in, but you can see right through them.

2) Copiers: They are Female, because once turned off it takes a while to warm them up again. It's an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed, but can wreak havoc if the wrong buttons are pushed.

3) Tires: Male, because they go bald and are often over-inflated.

4) Hot Air Balloon: Male, because to get it to go anywhere you have to light a fire under it, and, of course there's the hot air.

5) Sponges: Female, because they're soft, squeezable and retain water.

6) Web Page: Female, because it's always getting hit on.

7) Subway: Male, because it uses the same old lines to pick people up.

8) Hourglass: Female, because over time the weight shifts to the bottom.

9) Hammer: Male, because it hasn't changed much over the last 5,000 years, but its handy to have around.

10) Remote Control: Female. Ha! You thought it'd be Male. But consider this - it gives a man pleasure, he'd be lost without it, and while he doesn't always know the right buttons to push, he keeps trying.

Keep laughing,
C

New site to check out

Yes, mike Morgan - worship leading madman - has his own website. Look right under must see website. Share it with everyone you know!

Good weekend. Pretty good monday happening. Leaving soon to visit with the fellas and do some programming.

No new revelations.

C

Well, the weekend is here

Howdy,

it is Friday afternoon and I am wrapping it up for the weekend. Pretty good day. I spent it mostly with the Quiet Rider going to a job site wrapping up details. He is going on vacation next week. Slacker!

Needless to say, Saturday plans are set and in motion. Parade and fireworks and lots of grill action. Sunday will be the gathering. I am not sure what is happening as we did not do much planning. I am SURE the fellas have put the plan in motion and I think Deur is bringing the thunder. It will be great the hear how the Chicago trip went.

Nothing more than that.

until later,
C

Coast Guard week is upon us

The time of the year where the city of Grand Haven is overrun by tourists. I understand that tourism is an important part of the economy here in the Haven, but it does not mean I like it.

What is does do is make me think. Think about all the individuals that are traveling here for rest and relaxation. People spending time with family and friends and enjoying our city & beaches. That is awesome.

I had an opportunity to spend some time with a friend last night. We were talking about things. I had mentioned some revelations that have recently hit me. Like what our speaker was talking about Sunday morning. He is so right on. We are so used to the experience of being at church. We are almost addicted to the worship experience. The early church was not addicted to church. They were believers because the tomb was empty.

I think there is real truth and revelation there. Our society is so "me" driven. We do most everything with "me" in mind. Yet, we do not deserve what God has offered us freely.

This came up because we were praying over our meal and I said, "Thank you, Lord, that the tomb is empty."

C

It has been a while

Good afternoon.

It is raining here in downtown GH. This is Coast Guard festival week. The week where all true GHist run and hide. The town usually grows to several times the normal size. So there are several people around. They will close off the main street soon and set up the carnival.

So I am suppose to be doing programming for Watermark now. The Gooch and I are hanging this afternoon as the rest of the fellas are either in Chicago or on vacation. We are at the Coffee Grounds watching traffic and solving the worlds problems. But it is overcast and looks like it is going to rain.

So it was a good weekend. Friday was laid back. Saturday was laid back. We went to the children's parade and met the Thompson clan. It was great to see Becca and the Thompson boys watch the parade. They see the world completely differently. After the parade, we had lunch and chilled with some movies from Blockbuster.

Later that night we were hanging at the Johnsons. We had dinner when Roach and Judy showed up. The conversation flew as Roach was ranting and raving. Becca and I hide in the basement until the conversation died down.

The gathering on Sunday was awesome. GET THE RECORDING. I cannot explain the freedom I felt after.

All this to say, I am glad I am here.

gotta go for now.
C

movie night

Well, I met with the programming fellas today.  That is such a great time.  We discuss all sorts of creative ways to bring the gospel.  It is great for me to have the ability to input.  There are times when I feel like I am trying to catch up to these guys -- because they are creative.  But they are patient with me and I like it.

Afterward, N8, Roach and I talked ministry stuff for a while.  It was great to get some good insight from them.  Good stuff about broadening horizons and looking beyond and dreaming larger.  That was awesome.  I walked away with the need to pray a little harder and give a little more.

I ended up over to Jeff & Kathy's.  They invited me to stay for dinner and a movie.  Hitting the Bourne Supremacy tonight.  I am excited.  I hope I am not disappointed.  More on that./

I have been thinking alot lately about some things -- how fortunate I am to have a place to live, car to drive, home to go to.  Some of the others are the support people I have.  And today I am referring to my family on the west side of the state.  I know I have said this before but I have seen a lot of healing with my ex-wife, daughter, and ex-family.  they have been great about things.  I have really appreciate the acceptance they extend to me.  I know it is weird but it works for us and it really helps Becca adjust.  That it me and I know Sarah is what is important.  So to all of them -- Birt & Gaye, Dave & Sarah, Britt, Suzy, Tyler, Drew and Seth, Matt, Heidi, Izak and Liberty -- I say I love you and thank you.

All of the stuff to say our God is a big God how can change lives and heal if we only allow Him to do so.

My head hurts now.

Out,
C

I hit 100 postings

It seems like I should have a party or something.  100 postings!  Do I really have that much to say?  I don't know.

What an interesting weekend.  I picked up Becca Friday night.  We spent the evening at a friends house.  This is a couple really close to Becca and me.  The father of the wife had recently passed on.  So we spent time with them being the church.

Saturday was car repair day.  I hate cars.  They are a bad investment.  I still need to do a little more work on it but things are good for now.

Saturday night was rough.  Becca picked up something.  She was not feeling well.  So I did not play Sunday morning.  I did sound instead because there was misfire with communication.  that was fun.

Gotta go for now.
C

Friday.......

Yes I am still at work.  I am not happy about it but I am here.  I almost had to go to CA again yesterday, but one of my co-workers went instead.  The store is opening and the personnel their have the jitters.  So, the pres and vp of engineering from my company jumped a plane and are there right now.  I am here as support for them.  We ended up reprogramming some things.  Suck.

The weekend is here.  I am excited about seeing my daughter.  Jeff and Kathy are watching her right now as I could not pick her up on time. 

Mike Morgan just called to ask if I want to play keyboards on Sunday.  I say, "Is a frog's butt water tight?"  I am there.  I can't wait.  I love watermark.  This sunday is going to be good. 

Anyway, my guys from CA are direct connecting me.  Gotta go.

Out,
becca's dad

Read the Thompson blog

I was out of town and did not have time to catch up on the blogsphere.  I was reading Thompson's most recent blog about the intervention he had.  I love reading the comments section because there is always someone with a different spin - good, bad, funny or serious.

This was a response to that blog.  Read the blog and then read the comments.

I heard a pastor say once that a lady from his church complained about someone smelling of cigarette smoke in the pew near her. He told us later that he wants his church to stink a little bit. Acceptance, it's what Jesus specialized in, and I don't. Yet.
 
"The church should be the same kind of community, but somehow it's become a culture of dressing up, retaining anonymity in a crowd, performing duty and listening to a professional."
 
I wanna BE THE CHURCH!
 
My heart resonants with that thought.  I want to be the church.  Jesus did specialize in acceptance.  We were discussing this in a group I was in on Monday.  How we miss the point on how Jesus responded to people and how he calls us to do likewise.  How in our weakness he is strong.  Inspite of our hangups, he continues to impact, influence, and change lives.

Thought for the day.

Out,
C