Fall Retreat 06

too many thoughts - random thoughts

I was informed by Betsy that we haven't blogged lately. It is not that there is nothing to blog about, I think of things ALL THE TIME. It is there is no time! So I have tons of thoughts - so here are a list of my random thoughts:

* yes clemson lost. no i am not a happy camper. it was a great game, and usc deserved to win. seriously - the only way we could stop them on third down was to intercept the stinkin' ball! and like i keep telling these usc fans - once every five years ain't that bad. that line will work this year.

* christmas decorations before thanksgiving should be outlawed. i put up with decorations before my birthday (12/7) except in my house - which betsy does not like...but decorations during the month of nov is ridiculous.

* betsy and i are in the process of heading to Turkey and Israel in May. we are SUPER PUMPED about it. first to travel with Ray Vanderlin (jewish scholar). second to walk the streets Paul preached from and the alleys were Jesus played as a boy. This blows my mind!

* 24 starts in a little over a month! The Jack Baur power hour is back!

* the local movie theater ticket has just gone to $9 a pop. are you kidding me! almost $20 for bets and i to see a movie. that may of been my last movie in the theater. i refuse to pay that much. in eighth grade when the price was $6 i swore i would not go any longer when movies are $10. and now i am that old when i say "i remember when..."

* continuing the movie rant. why must we pay $9 for a ticket, when they are now playing COMMERCIALS during the previews. they are getting more for my ticket and they are getting paid for putting the commercials up. here's an idea. lets not pay actors a ridiculous amount ($10 million) per movie. and i'm done.

* whoever plays Ohio State for the national championship will LOSE.

* i would put TrueNorth up against any portable church in the country! not to brag, but the transformation (steve's new word) that happens in that gym is awesome. God has truly blessed TNC with the people, talents, money, and passion. Yea God.

* simple is the way to go. all about simple right now. as a staff we are reading "simple church." great book on how complex the church has become. of course this is a reflection of our culture and society. simplicity is a fresh breeze in our chaotic lives.

* the blogging world has a lost a great blogger. chuck young has offically retired a blogger. he was strong out of the gate, but just lost passion. RIP - ears to the earth. if you haven't read laura ownings blog - check it out here - laura is a great writer and worth reading.

* the tanners are making a christmas card - no we are not all (betsy, walt, bowden, and chloe) wear matching white shirts. Bowden will have a white coat. if you want one let us know.

that's it for now.

Made: episode two

Many people have been asking for Episode Two of Made. Here ya go! Jim Bob gets to meet his coach - golf pro Mr. Fritzgearld III (sp?).

Made: episode one

We started a new series this week at Element called Made: becoming what God wants us to be. And of course we are playing off my favorite TV show on MTV - made. So here is our first episode where you meet Jim Bob Cooter and his dream to become a professional golfer. Each week you will see Jim Bob Cooter - or as his friends call him...Cooter....actually become a golfer.

Bowden Tanner

Bowden chilling on the front porch.

Three Years Ago!

Three years ago LAST NIGHT (Halloween) Betsy and I had coffee for the first time in three years of not seeing each other (Round 1). We caught up and talked about where we were and about life. Then Betsy asked me to go to a wedding - but I couldn't due to the fact I already had something that weekend. Even though she was heart broken - I quickly came back with I have a wedding I needed a "date" for. She said "Yes." One year later we were engaged and six months married! WOW how things have changed in Three Years!

Passed!!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I did in fact pass the Georgia Bar Exam. Results were posted online today, and I am an official lawyer (well, I have to be sworn in, but I am a lot closer to being an official lawyer now). What a relief!!!! Thanks for all the prayers!

Betsy

Lock Out Video

Here is our most recent event with a 150 student staying up ALL NIGHT LONG! Enjoy.

First Two Catalyst Speakers & Thoughts

Andy Stanley: Andy is a pastor of a small church in Atlanta called North Point (not really- it his huge). Andy is very talented communicator who brought the junk with his talk at Catalyst. He spoke on Daniel 4 and this statement repeated again and again - "...the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."

Main Points:
*Leadership is temporary. At the end of the day God is the only thing left standing.
* Christian leaders ought to reek with humility
* God is sovereign!

Marcus Buckingham: Marcus is a very successful business man, author, consultant, and speaker. His latest book "The One Thing You Need to Know" focuses on the idea not to work on making your weaknesses better, but strengthening your strengths! Crazy idea. But this goes against our whole society. Society says we must be "well rounded". We live in a society that is remedial in everything we do. Why? Because we focus on being "well rounded".

Three Myths:

Myth #1

As you grow your personality changes--66% believe that. Not true. As you grow you become more and more of who you really are! "We're all a wee bit insecure about some part of our personality."

"Therapy is the price you pay for helping your kids know they are wrong."
"You show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser."

Myth #2

You'll grow the most by working on your weaknesses. We focus on our weak subjects in school. You can't ignore the "D." But that isn't where you'll grow. Weaknesses are areas of least opportunity. Study what your bad at and you get not bad!

Myth #3

What the team needs is for you chip in and do whatever is needed by the team. What the team needs the most if for you to identify your strengths and volunteer to use them. What the team needs isn't a vague willingness to do whatever it takes. Take a stand for your strengths!

*Don't be well-rounded.

Personally this was one of my favorite speakers. This is an area I personally needed to grow. I am good at a lot of things, great at none. This is definitely important in the church. The body of Christ is made up of so many parts and talents. We need people to discover their passions and gifts, and run at the world not well rounded - GREAT at what God has blessed them with...strengths!

Random Thoughts

• The purple Clemson jerseys looked sweet. Yes I know that everyone doesn't love them, but hey we played awesome and brought back an old Clemson tradition. If we would of lost, I can't say I would like them as well.
• The Tigers will win the World Series against the Cardinals in six games - Steve (pastor) will remind me if I am wrong.
• Lock Outs are like Crack for students. They are Jonesin for another before the last one is done!
• Question from a Catalyst Podcast: "If your church was taken out of your community, who would miss it other than your people. Would the community plea for the church to say? Is your church making such an impact on your local community it would be truly missed? " Rob Bell - something to ponder on.
• Apparently babies don't have gills in the womb. They do have "gill slits" but they are not used as gills. Who knew?
• Betsy finds out if she passes the Bar this Friday at 4:30pm. This will either be a REALLY good day, or REALLY bad day. Pretty sure it will be a Good Day.

Clemson vs Georgia Tech

Clemson on GameDay!
Clemson defeats Georgia Tech 31 - 7!

Walty likey!

More on Facing the Giants

"Facing the Giants" was on the Today Show this morning. Very cool story. I learned a few things:

• Alex Kendrick - Director and Head Football Coach is the associate pastor at Sherwood Baptist
• The movie was made on $100,000 - taken up in donations! Remember it has made $4 million to date.
• They created another movie "Flywheel" a couple years ago. Didn't do so hot.
• Not on Today Show: found out that the assistant coach I liked JT Hawkins who is played by Chris Willis - works for Frito Lays in Albany and has seven kids and teaches Sunday school at Sherwood. He needs to get into movies!

This week at TrueNorth we are starting a new series called "Facing the Giants." (yes based on the movie) We are pumped about this series. There are so many people who face giants in their lives and feel like there is no way to defeat them. But God says different. And we are getting to do a lot of football stuff. Not giving anything away - but look for the GameDay crew set up for Sunday Morning!

Facing the Giants

Betsy and I went to see "Facing the Giants" with our journey team this past Sunday. If you haven't heard "Facing the Giants" is a movie written and directed by two brothers at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia (I think).

The story of how it got to the big screen is great. Long story short - the brothers sent the movie to Third Day to see if they could get permission to use a song. Third Day thought it was so good, they sent it to Sony Pictures - and they picked it up. Right now it has made over $4 million in 3 weeks. Compared to "The Grudge 2" who made $20 million in its first week. BUT Giants is only showing in 400 theaters and has made over $11,000 per theater, and the Grudge only made $6,000 per theater. Way to go....when you combine God and Football in the south, you are going to win!

Overall a good movie - good story - predicable ending - some very bad acting. My understanding is that everyone was a part of their church or town, no high paid actors. VERY emotional! It moves you. The death crawl scene is one of the most powerful scenes I have seen in a long time. Sad to say, but will be label "Christian movie" - meaning it wasn't up to par to the rest of the hollywood. BUT the black assistant coach HILARIOUS! Someone should hire him! "I'm assistant coach. I at least should of gotten a moped!"

Rumor has it that Arkansas went to see this movie the night before the Auburn game - and beat the Auburn giants the next day. TrueNorth has decided to pay for the entire North Augusta High, North Augusta Middle, and Paul Knox Middle football teams to go see the movie! Hey if one kid gets it and sees that Christ is Lord-its a win!

Learn more and see the trailer at: http://www.facingthegiants.com/

Ian - I doubt that Boston theaters will be showing this one!

Dental School

Apparently everyone should have their wisdom teeth taken out by an oral surgeon student at their local medical school. Everyone is SO AMAZED at my rebound time from the surgery. And that I trusted a student to do it. Hey when you got connections and no dental insurance...you do what you gotta do!

Walter's Wisdom Gone

After only one day of losing my wisdom teeth, I am back to 97%. One tooth was a bear to get out, but other than a little soreness in that "hole" I am back to normal (which in not normal at all). Apparently this is not normal. Everyone said I will be out for the entire weekend. Walter's back baby!

This X-ray is not mine, but similar. My two bottom teeth were impacted. The top two were fine - but they had to go!

I must now regain my 27 years of wisdom I lost....they won't take too long!

Patience Umazi

This is Patience Umazi. She is 7 years old and lives in Kenya. She is our Compassion child. While at Big Stuf I called Betsy and told her that God had really put Compassion on my heart and thought we should adopt a child. She said yes. Now the mission began. As I went to look at the over 50 children they had who were is need, I could not bring myself to chose JUST ONE! So I turn around, threw a pen over my should and said a prayer that the God would give us the child he had picked out. And Patience was the child I took home that day.

If you don't know, Compassion is Christian ministry that finds children in need all over the world and set them up to be adopted by someone who would pay for their schooling, clothes, food, etc. It is a great ministry that I had heard about many times over the past ten years. I continue to say later, later, later....well later is now.

We are so excited to helping Patience out. Betsy and I have already written her a letter, and she wrote us back with a picture drawn for us. Her birthday is in a couple of days, and we have a special letter and gift for her. I am thankful that God has blessed Betsy and I so that we can help those in need. One person at a time.

Past Week and Random Thoughts

Tonight is Sunday - and I am chillin' like a villin'. It has been a productive day. Church starting at 7am, watching NFL, Bowden and I ran, clean the car, surfed on MySpace talking with students, getting ready for Lock Out....And now finally posting!

The past several weeks have been super busy for both Betsy and I. We have just finished a back to back weekends of weddings in Gvegas (Greenville). And almost every night Betsy or I have been out doing things. This past week the TrueNorth staff headed to ATL to a leadership and creative conference called Catalyst. It was stinkin' amazin'. I will fill everyone in on that trip in later post. And I have just come out of a SICKNESS and now Betsy is in the middle of the SICKNESS. Fun Times. That is the 411 on us - now Random Thoughts.

• Weddings during College Football season should be outlawed. Seriously even if you aren't a football fan - respect those of us who are.
• Yankees Lose...Yankees Lose....Yankees Lose!!!!
• Six Years ago I bought a Detroit Tiger hat because one of my heroes wore a Tigers hat - Magnum P.I - yes he lived in Hawaii and drove a Ferrari. And now I will wear it with pride now that they have slaughtered the New York Yankees.
• "My Hero" by the Foo Fighters can push you to finish any race strong. Today on our run - Bowden and I were 200 yards from finishing our 3.6 run - and dying! (two weeks off from sickness). Foo Fighters comes on the IPOD and I imaged the GreenWay lined with peeps singing My Hero - finished SPRINTING!!! And magnum PI was waiting at the end!
• A new Era in Clemson Football has arrived! We beat Wake Forest. 24 Points in the 4th quarter are you kidding me.
• Studio 60 (NBC) one of the best new shows on TV.
• I am getting my wisdom teeth out Friday - Why do they call them wisdom teeth? Laura O, does Alan know the answer to this riddle?
• Jeff Foxworthy (who was at the Catalyst conference) will make you pee in your pants.
• Terrell Owens is the worst player on my fantasy Team! "Can you step into my office- you're fired."

Stayed for more post! Soon...Like in 5 minutes.

Tanner Rednecks

Well this weekend I work harder at making Betsy a little more red around the collar! Mrs. Furman - Lawyer girl went with me to watch one of our students (Amanda Benner) race in her dragester! FUN TIMES at the Carolina Dragstrip. This is apparently one of the best dragstrips in the south east. If you knew my girl Amanda you would NEVER know she is a racer. But she GOOD.

Since our involvement, not only now have we been to the dragstrip, but also to a NASCAR race! Betsy had NEVER been into NASCAR until Walter. Two years ago for my birthday....she bought us tickets to Bristol (how awesome is my wife). She even has a driver now - Darrell Jarrett. Her theory was she used UPS - so that would be driver.

Don't let her fool you - she had a little country in her. She did do a year on the Rodeo circuit as a barrel racer! You can take the girl out of the country, but ya can't take the country out of the girl - even in the court room! Her is to all the UNDERCOVER rednecks out there - YEE HAW! (one of the greatest TV shows ever!!!!!!)

End of the Spear

Betsy and I did not see this movie when it came out in theaters. I knew the true story of the missionaries, and had heard that the movie was great. Well Bets and I rented it the other day.
WOW! Never have I seen such an example of grace and forgiveness. It was amazing. As the family goes to live with tribe that KILLED their husbands and fathers you ask, "Could I ever forgive like that." Then there was the final scene by the river where Jonny's dad was killed and the tribal leader who speared him. Crazy good! If you haven't rented it - DO IT. And it isn't bad movie making either. Quality actors and great camera work for the jungles of Ecuador. It is not your traditional Hollywood movie - actually some good stuff!

Element

If anyone was wondering what it looks like on Wednesday's at Element - here ya go! Thanks TJ for the pic...not only does TJ rock out by leading our student band, but also clickin' the pics!

Our current series is called "Face Off: facing lifes issues." The crowd is facing each other. Fun times. This is our Middles School Crowd.