North Carolina Tar Heels, NCAA Champions!

I have been a huge fan of North Carolina basketball since the days of Michael Jordan. My greatest sports "hero" is UNC legendary coach Dean Smith. His legacy extends far beyond his championship teams to his off-the-court influence of his players and coaches. I have enjoyed reading about Coach Smith through both biography and autobiography.

It has always been a dream of mine to attend the NCAA Final Four. An even greater dream has been to attend the National Championship Game. Imagine my delight at the offer of two free tickets to the game…which resulted in North Carolina's defeat of Michigan State! The only thing greater than the game was sharing it with my son. Indescribable!

100,000 miles!

My 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan hit a milestone today…100,000 miles. 

My extended warranty has now expired. Yikes! Van, please don't fail me now!

The Shack

I just finished reading my first fiction book in 22 years! After hearing friends talk about it and interviews with the author, I read The Shack this week. I am obviously not an avid reader of fiction, but this fascinating book captivated me in ways words cannot begin to express. I highly recommend it.

Frontline Church, Ann Arbor

Today we celebrated God's faithfulness during the past decade of Frontline Church, Ann Arbor. In 2009 we are joining 2|42 Community Church in Brighton, Michigan to launch 2|42 Ann Arbor. It is bittersweet, for sure. It is clearly the right thing to do at the right time. A friend said it's like watching your daughter get married. It is supposed to happen and a wonderful thing, yet there is some sadness.

The most amazing part of today was having Dieter Zander in attendance, the man who God used to essentially cast vision for Frontline more than 14 years ago via a radio broadcast. It was also great to see my parents—a wonderful surprise—and three members of the 2|42 staff that I will be joining in January.

God is good, faithful and trustworthy. As we close Volume 1, I look forward to Volume 2—new title, same Author, new characters, same story. Special thanks to everyone who has been a part of Frontline…and in advance to all of you who will be a part of the 242A2 journey.

Advent Conspiracy

Christmas can [still] change the world. Check out what we are doing this year. The video is so cool!

Advent Conspiracy

Join us!

Dieter Zander

Today I spent the afternoon with Dieter Zander, one of the most influential people in my life. God used Dieter speaking on a radio broadcast fourteen years ago to communicate a vision for what is today Frontline. For details, click here. 

Dieter and I both lived in Chicagoland from 1994-1998 during which time he mentored me over lunch (which included introducing me to sushi and Mongolian BBQ!). We are both musicians, worship leaders, pastors, and church planters. The wisdom and truth that he spoke into my life during those four years have had a profound impact on my life in ways that could never be expressed in a blog entry.

On March 11, 2004, I saw Dieter for the first time since we left Chicagoland (he went back to California; I went back to Michigan). We were in San Diego and had lunch together…exactly 10 years to the day that I heard his voice on the radio during lunch! It was quite amazing, to say the least! 

On February 4, 2008, Dieter suffered a very serious stroke with many complications. He has undergone numerous rounds of procedures and therapies. This week he came to Ann Arbor to participate in the six-week University of Michigan Aphasia Program for speech therapy. 

It was an absolutely fantastic experience to see Dieter. Though it was challenging for him to communicate, we were able to reconnect over lunch and then coffee. 

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful friend in my life…and in my city for five more weeks.

For information about how to help Dieter and his family, click here. Thanks!

Why I Love The Philadelphia Phillies

Although I live in Michigan, I love the Philadelphia Phillies…and also the Philadelphia Eagles, 76ers, and Flyers. Last night was the first championship for the City of Brotherly Love in 25 years since the 76ers won in 1983. It was only the second time in 125 years that the Phillies won the World Series. I will never forget celebrating as a young boy on October 21, 1980 when they won their first championship. 

Needless to say, I am overjoyed!

I have never lived in Philadelphia, but in the late 1970's, our family vacationed on the east coast, visiting 18th century historical sites in Boston, Williamsburg, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia. My boyhood heroes included George Washington and Benjamin Franklin and after experiencing Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Betsy Ross' house, I declared Philadelphia as my favorite city. That same summer I began an interest in sports and started collecting baseball cards so I adopted the sports teams of my favorite city. Weird? Yes, but I've been a diehard fan ever since!

So although you could probably care less, let me just say one more time…

The Phillies are World Champions!!!

P.S. In addition to Philadelphia, I am also a big fan of the Detroit franchises (the Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings; I'd root for the Lions if they would ever win!). Of course, on the college level I am a huge University of Michigan fan and also love North Carolina basketball (their former coach, Dean Smith, is my all-time sports hero).