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Read the story here.

I am really looking forward to time off with my family this Summer.  We don’t yet have any firm plans, but just the thought of time with my family without the everyday concerns I now have, sounds heavenly.  The question is this:  Will I approach our annual vacation as ME time, or FAMILY time?  

I came across this article that challenged me to do better with my family and vacation time; Challenged me to the core.  I hope you like it.  There is a part two, but start with part one.

Read C.J. Mahaney’s excellent post here.

After you’ve read the article, come back here and tell us your thoughts on C.J.’s post… and maybe even your vacation stories (the good, the bad, the ugly). 

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I’ve been off the blog for a while.  I just don’t have it in me to write something for no other reason than to write something.  Bigger fish to fry.

This week I have something that deserves a write up.  There’s life at Mars!  Not Mars the planet; Mars the church.  I just returned from the National Resurgence Conference held at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA.  Having been a regular vodcast viewer of Mark Driscoll (pastor at Mars Hill) for some time, when the opportunity to cash in some sky miles presented itself I (and two other pastors) made the trip.  It was time well-spent.  I am happy to say that Jesus is alive and well in the Seattle area and He’s got His hands all over Driscoll and the work He’s given him to do there.  There’s a lot of confusion among Christians these days with regards to what is termed the Emerging Church (Emergent Church; Emergent Village) and for good reason – it’s confusing, and much of it is garbage.  There is nothing confusing about Mark Driscoll.  The label doesn’t fit him.  He’s a Bible guy.  He’s a Jesus guy.  He’s reaching Seattle’s 20-something’s with Jesus, the Bible, and nothing else.  I went to see Mars Hill for myself, but It didn’t hurt that his guests for the week were Dr. John Piper from Desiring God Ministries and C.J. Mahaney from Sovereign Grace ministries in DC.  The teaching was excellent.  But what inspired me most was the site of an urban church (in one of the least churched cities in America) with a pastor on fire for Jesus.  What God did in the late 60’s through Chuck Smith in sunny southern California He appears to be doing in the 00’s through Mark Driscoll in rainy Seattle Washington, and I’m glad to have  experienced it first-hand.  If you’d like to get a taste for what God is doing there visit Marshillchurch.org.  If you are one that has had questions about the Emergent Church you would do well to listen to (or watch) his most recent message given on Sunday, Feb. 24th where he explains the history and beliefs of the movement that he refuses to identify himself with.  Mark identifies himself with Jesus and with His Word, and I have no problem identifying with a servant of Jesus Christ like Mark Driscoll.