Welcome to Nolan's World

Blogging Break

Due to the speed of life and a few projects going on that need to be finished, the blog will be silent until October 1.  I will be back.  This hurts me more than it hurts you!  :)

It's the Weekend

• Sunday was my only day off over the last twelve days (and even Sunday was a crazy day)--I am so happy that it is the weekend
• It has been a crazy but rewarding work week
• My morning team has been an oatmeal selling machine this week
• I am looking forward to making coffee for the family only tomorrow and Sunday
• Maddie was so excited to turn seven!  It was wonderful to see her be so excited about her birthday this week.
• I am really hoping Alabama DESTROYS Arkansas tomorrow!
• I only mean football; not state against state combat!
• Just watched the first episode of the show "Fringe" today after work...I liked it.
• I am glad that Dan won Big Brother 10
• 15 little girls are about to invade the house for Madalyn Anne's Camp Rock Karaoke Birthday Celebration
• God is doing some great things in my heart these days
• My mind has been in overdrive working on a ministry project the last few days
• My small group rocks
• One thing that will fire me up quickly is listening to Andy Stanley talk about leadership!
• Something that would really excite me on Sunday--Another Titans win!
• Have you watched Dinner: Impossible with Michael Symon on Food Network?  Great show!
• It's a funny thing to say, but I'll say it anyway:  I don't have clarity for the future, but I have clarity for the moment
• Hope you have a great weekend!

My Baby Girl is 7 Today!

It is so hard to believe that seven years ago today my little Madalyn Anne was born.  Maddie is the joy of my heart.  She is sweet, smart, kind, loving, funny, helpful, encouraging, and wonderful.  I love every day that I get with my little girl.  God blessed Alison and me with the greatest gift He could entrust to us when He gave us Mada. 

We will be having a family party tonight and then tomorrow several of her little girl friends are coming over for a "Camp Rock" karaoke party. 

Happy birthday, my little princess.  Daddy loves you with all his heart!

At the Top of My Christmas Wishlist

A #28 Chris Johnson replica home jersey in size 2XL.  I would love to open this on Christmas morning, but am not opposed if you want to send me a little "Christmas in September!"

The Best Reason to Go to Costco...

...is a fresh hot churro for a buck plus tax!

Weekend Update

• Six days in a row of serving coffee to others is done.  Hot weather has not helped the coffee cause this week.
• It was cool to work at a different store for a short shift this week to get a fresh perspective.
• My reading time has been minimal this week other than for youth group preaching prep and small group prep.
• I started a Catalyst podcast with Andy Stanley yesterday.  All I have to do to get fired up about leadership is listen to Andy Stanley.
• I love developing leaders.
• Speaking of developing leaders, my atheist friend has relocated to another store, but he is doing a great job as a shift manager at his new location.  We spent a half hour catching up on the phone yesterday.  I miss working with my friend but I am proud of how he continues to grow.
• All of the Vince Young drama has been sad to me.  I have heard from people in the past that Vince is a follower of Christ.  I am praying he gets his head together while his knee is injured and I hope he comes back stronger than ever as a football player and leader.
• Thanks to EPG, the Expedition has some new front brakes so there is no longer an embarrassing squeal as we roll down the road.
• It was great to talk to my favorite bass player in the world on the phone today.  Timmy, I sure miss you and Susan.  Can't wait to see you two again and meet baby Claire around Christmas.
• Alison was a busy sub this week.
• Maddie turns seven on Thursday.  It doesn't even seem possible.
• I hope Bama looks better this week than last. 
• I can't remember the last time I thought about going to see a movie.
• I am excited for fall TV but even more excited for January TV (When Lost and 24 return).
• I think Dan has been the best player on Big Brother since Dr. Will!
• I hope my friend Todd will be on Big Brother 11 next summer!
• Hope you have a great weekend!

Preaching at Youth Group

I have to admit, it was pretty exciting for me to preach to our church youth on Wednesday night.  It has been sixteen months since I last did a sermon to a group of young people.  On the inside, I was a little nervous for several days leading up to youth group. 

I love preaching to kids.  I love seeing the fire in their eyes when God is at work in their hearts.  They are the hope of reaching their generation with the love of Jesus.  My prayer is that many of them will take up the challenge of living out their faith at school and that God will use them to reach their unsaved friends with the Gospel. 

I was loud.  I was intense.  I felt a little bit like a caged lion who had been trying to escape his cell for... about sixteen months. :)  It was great to see several of our kids listening intently and I know the Holy Spirit was at work during the entire evening (my buddy from small group Terry Lawson did a great job of leading worship).  Two young ladies had enough courage to stand up at the end of the message and say they would shoulder the burden of spiritual leadership within this youth group and commit to be the catalysts to see this youth group experience spiritual revival!

I guess you can take the pastor out of the youth, but you can't take the "youth" out of the pastor.  Even though it was a visit, it felt good to be back in the saddle!

Getting Quiet Before the Lord

One of my favorite verses of Scripture is Psalm 46:10: "Be still and know that I am God."

As much as I love that verse, I struggle to apply it these days.

My job has a pretty good amount of noise, we have a busy house most of the time; quiet is a commodity I am just not used to having most days.

Part of that is truth and part is an excuse.  I think of all the times that I COULD have stillness, and CHOOSE to fill the quiet space with some kind of noise.  I am a multi-tasker who LOVES working on several different things at the same time.  In the past, I have also been able to zero in and have a laser focus on one thing.  I wonder if that ability is beginning to diminish in my life.

I would guess that many of you are just like me.  We want to know God's heart.  We want to live in His ways. 

In order to do that, we must follow His teachings.--"Be STILL and KNOW that I am GOD!"

I am shutting down my laptop.  I am going to a quiet room.  For several minutes I am going to sit before the Lord and be quiet.  I am going to wait on Him to speak and I am going to enjoy the stillness of the moment.  I am also going to incorporate more moments of solitude in my life in the days to come.

It's a small price to pay so that I can connect to the deepest part of God!

A Wild Weekend

• Alabama won.  It was an ugly win, but ugly wins are better than pretty losses any day!
• Is there such a thing as a pretty loss, now that I think about it?
• The Titans won and their defense looked great.  The rest of the AFC South lost so we have a comfortable one game lead on everyone in the division today.
• Is it possible that Vince Young regressed as a leader since last year?  He had a "deer caught in the headlights" look a couple of times yesterday!
• Chris Johnson was an absolute freak yesterday.  This kid is going to give the Titans a boost on offense that will open up passing lanes late in games.  GREAT PICK!
• Alan preached at church yesterday and rocked the house!  It was a great day.
• My small group is the best on the planet.  I love being with my friends every Sunday night.  It is one of the highlights of my week.
• Work was a nice change of pace this morning.
• Speaking of change of pace, I don't go to work until 6:30 AM tomorrow--I am normally there at 5 AM!
• My friends Daron and Jamie Koch are now blogging.  Check out their sites under my "Blogging Friends" link.
• My friend Dave "Movie Pastor" Anderson has his church blowing up down in Decatur.  They had over 270 people come to two services yesterday.  Dave is a bi-vocational pastor!  Wow!  I am proud of what God is up to at Crosspoint!
• I have to knock off a little ring rust and go preach to our youth group on Wednesday night!  I am fired up about it even though it has been 16 months since I have preached to a youth group!
• I get to go be a parent reader at Maddie's first grade class today.
• Burundi Kayanza is a very good coffee but not quite as good as Kenya.
• I am loving some Anniversary Blend though.
• Oatmeal has been a big seller at my Starbucks...a little surprising to me, but it is good!
• Francis Chan's "Crazy Love" is one great book!
• Have I mentioned that I have the most incredible wife on the planet?
• My daughter is the coolest first grader I know!!!
• Original recipe chicken strips at KFC?  What took them so long???  Review to follow later this week!
• Have a great day!!!

Saturdays Rock

My Saturday so far--Work til 11:30 AM, ate Lenny's Cheesesteak for lunch while watching football, took a two hour nap, watching more football, Pizza Hut is delivering shortly, and Bama kicks off in less than 30 minutes.

Saturdays rock!!!