Here is our first pet. We named him Koy because I wanted to name Avery that and DeAnna wouldn’t let me. Sounded like a cowboy name to me so I dug it. He is 10 weeks old and he is BIG and he needs a bath, and he wants to climb on me, and I ain’t down with any of that stuff.

The kids love him and I hope I will grow to at least be able to deal with him. Seriously, I think I am going to do dig him.

We are in dog search mode at the Lamb house.  DeAnna really wants one for the kids, she wants one to run with her, and she wants a puppy so the kids can grow up with it.  Me, I could care less.   We really like Boxers and they seem to be the right mix for our family and what we want.  So we in search mode.

We’ve also decided that getting a dog from a rescue is the way to go.  I have found out there are two kinds of rescues.  1.) Those that really are a rescue and want to place the dog.  2.) Those that really care about making money.  It is funny what some of the rescues charge.  You could just go to a breeder and buy one.

I have also learned that a lot of dog lovers are great people but they aren’t the best business runners.  They don’t specialize in calling people back, a lot act like your an idiot with your questions, and a ton of them act like you are a bothering them by calling.  It is weird.

Of course, there are a few we have run into that are GREAT and I am excited about finding the perfect dog.  I thought we had found one with a boxer/bullmastiff mix but the bullmastiff isn’t suited for running.  I was bummed because I really wanted it.

I went and had a physical on Friday.  Nothing cool about that.  Physically I guess I am fine.  I haven’t gotten my blood work back yet, but he said I looked fine…..except for the fact that I need to lose 42 pounds.  Wow!  That will put me at a weight I haven’t seen since High School.

I have done a very good job of riding my bike the last month since I got it, but I haven’t done a good job watching what I eat.  So, tonight I had my last meal.  DeAnna made Fried Chicken, fried okra, corn, and other goodies.  Tomorrow, I am going to get serious about watching what I eat.

You can’t lead a revolution being overweight and about to die.

I had a great time last night hanging out with the Bill and Jennifer Popp, Malcolm and Amy Young, and Todd and Mandy Harrison in Great Sky Subdivision. Great Sky gives out awesome candy so I was was happy.

It was a blast walking through the neighborhood and realizing that half the place goes to Revolution! I love chatting with our people especially when they are dressed up like cats, demons, witches, monsters, etc. I love that I can walk through a subdivision and see lives that are changed because God has used Revolution. It was awesome!

As I get older I am valuing friendships, family time, and seeing lives change more then ever.

Last night, I got to see all three.

It’s Halloween and I’m pumped because I love to see my kids have a GREAT time!  We are heading over to Great Sky Subdivision to hang with some people from church for dinner and then attacking all the awesome homes over there for candy.

I’m pumped!

I have shared over and over on this blog the amish ways of my wife, DeAnna.  Well, tonight she crossed the line and has proven she has lost her mind.  We are in a huge drought here in Georgia.  It is so bad that you can water the lawns, wash cars, etc.  The Governor has asked everyone to cut water usage by 10%.

So tonight while I am in the shower, she opens the door to shower and tells me she has figured out a way to save water.  So I am thinking she is about to join me in the shower and I am suddenly digging this save the water thing.  But instead of joining me she hands me a bucket and tells me to put on the floor of the shower to catch the water so SHE CAN WATER HER PLANTS!!!!!!

Are you kidding me????  The should do a reality show on our marriage.  It could be called “The Redneck Pastor and His Amish Wife.”

My little sister is at the hospital right now having a baby!!!!  I am such a crappy brother that I can’t remember if she is having a boy or girl and I can’t remember what she is naming  the baby either.

But, I am very proud of her.  She has taken a bad circumstance where she screwed up and has grown up and shown a ton of maturity.  She is going to be a great mom and I’m looking forward to being an uncle again.

Not that you care, but I’ll post some pictures when I get them.

Probably the #1 question I get when talking to church planters or pastors is regarding keeping their wives protected from what happens in the church. Every where I turn, I hear of hurting pastor’s wives and pastor’s wives that want nothing to do with ministry.

I have to be very honest and I don’t mean this in a cocky way but we have never dealt with that because I am a FREAK about protecting DeAnna from what can happen in a church. I am so blessed to pastor the church I pastor. I never deal with issues of people hurting my wife but we are intentional about not allowing that to happen.

Two years ago I wrote a post on this subject and I thought I would repost most of that post here again today because I hear so much from guys dealing with this issue.

So from the vault, here is that post just as I posted it two years ago (I did take some of the dated stuff out):

I recently read on a pastor’s blog the following quote:“Most Church Planter’s wives are in tremendous pain. Tears streaming down their faces from the emotional, spiritual, and physical exhaustion of starting a new work.”

I have seen this and I couldn’t agree more.

However I feel that this is a result of us as church planters putting our wives in position’s they sould not be in. It is that plain and simple.

I am prepared to get BLASTED with this post that is why I have waited so long to post it but please realize that I am not trying to be a mean with what I am about to say but this is a huge problem and it needs to be fixed.

I am in my second church plant (and last), I have been in full-time ministry since I was 20 (I’m now 31) and I have to say DeAnna has never went through this or experienced it and it is because I made some choices early on in my ministry.

1.) God did NOT call my wife to pastor this church. DeAnna is 100% behind what I do. She could not imagine doing anything else with our lives BUT I pastor and lead this church not her. There is no reason for her to feel the pressure or stress that comes along with doing what I do. She doesn’t have to give me advice on every decision that the church makes. She is my wife not the other pastor of the church.

2.) She doesn’t need to know every thing that happens. DeAnna and I talk a lot and we talk about the church a lot, however I do not tell her every thing. There are things she doesn’t need to know because it will change the way she looks at situations, people, or events. If she knew what people have said to me or have done to me, it would cause her to get bitter and angry. She doesn’t need to know every thing, neither does your wife.

3.) She doesn’t have to be at every thing. Being married to me is rough. Besides being married we have two wonderful children. They are a full time job. She attends what she wants too or what we feel would be good for her to be at but she does not attend every thing the church does. There is no need for that and all that does is burn your wife out. The church needs to know she has other responsbility then just them.

4.) I am VERY outspoken about complaining to my wife. In our membership class and from the stage I have made it very clear that if you have a complaint about the church or me you better not go to my wife with it. That is what cowards do and we need to let our church know she is not the complaint department.

5.) She serves where she feels called. Early in my minstry I made my wife play the good pastor’s wife. Not anymore. I only expect of her what I expect of every other member of Revolution. She must serve somewhere. For the first 9 months she led our preschool ministry. When she was ready to quit and turn it over to someone else, she did. She now serves in our children’s ministry as a volunteer because she wants to be there, not because she has to be there.

6.) I don’t dump all my problems on her. The reason your wife hates ministry is because she sees and hears that it is tearing you apart. All she hears is the negative stuff and because of her love for you, it upsets her. She doesn’t need that. I know we should be able to tell our spouse everything and you should. But you need to know what to tell her. Find a friend to unload all the junk on, not your wife. Naturally, if all she hears is the problem, she is going to hate ministry.

7.) I don’t cheat on her with the ministry. Most pastors are having on an affair on their wife with the church they pastor. This might not be popular but I would let all of Canton die and go to hell before I allowed my wife to grow bitter and stressed in her feelings for God. I work a lot of hours. I leave the house at 5 in the morning and I usually am not home until about 6:00 p.m. but when I get home, it is time for her and the kids. I talk ministry all day, I don’t want to or need to talk it with her.

8.) She loves where we are at. If DeAnna wasn’t happy, we would leave. She knows that. That is important to me. I have had several job offers since starting Revolution that I didn’t accept (I’m here until I die, I hope) but if I would have she would have killed me because she is happy here. That is important to me and she knows it.

9.) I don’t put financial pressure on her. Church planting is hard and the pay stinks. Of course she lives by guidelines when it comes to spending but when things are tight I don’t pressure her or make her feel guilty in this area. She has not worked since we have had kids and that has been fine. God called me to plant a church, God called her to be a mother.

10.) I date my mate. We make time for each other. No matter what is happening in our lives, we make time for each other. It might be sitting around the house after the kids are a sleep but we spend one on one time with each other no matter what. You need to make time for you wife. I tell my church all the time, “If you don’t make time for your spouse, someone else will.”

11.) I made sure she felt called. We had a lot of discussions on this matter. Just as God called me here, He called her. She has a different role but she has the same call. That is so important. I know that I know this is where God would have us to be and part of that call is because she feels the same way.

12.) I protect her. Under NO circumstances will I allow someone at church to hurt her. You haven’t see redneck until you see how I will react. I will not allow her to be attacked, I will not allow her to be taken advantage of, I will not allow her to be put in a bad position, etc. She knows that.

Pastor, listen to me. Your wife is the most important thing in your life. You have the duty to make sure she isn’t feeling stressed, pressured, or bitter about church planting. That is your #1 responsibility after loving God.

I meet with church planter’s and their wives all the time and I am amazed at the ready to quit attitudes of most wives. I blame the husband as much as I blame the church.

Ladies, know your role as well. Remember God called you to be a help mate to your husband, not run the church.

I am so passionate about this topic. I could not do what I do without my wife. She is my anchor and I will do whatever it takes to keep her from feeling what most planter’s wives feel.

You should do the same for your wife.

If you know me then you know I have a little Rockstar complex. :)  I personally don’t see it, but our people are quick to point it out. :)  Honestly, I am a wanna be Rockstar.  I would love to be a musician, but you have to know how play an instrument for that.  I have it so bad that I actually drink Rockstar Energy drinks by the gallon.  Yes, I have issues.

Anyway, I found out today that my wife is the REAL rockstar.  She took the kids to one of those indoor inflatable game places today.  She showed up at a certain time when the website said they would be open and as she pulled in the lady was closing.  She had changed the business hours but didn’t change the website.  So instead of leaving, my wife informs her that our kids were expecting to play SO the lady opened the place back up for her where they could play!!!  That is a TRUE rockstar!  I love that woman!

I have shared with you how crazy my wife is.  She has turned amish since I married her and is an organic eating health nut.  So since she has been on this kick, she has started shopping at Harry’s Farmers Market.  Harry’s is this place where everything they sell is local, organic, yada, yada.

I have avoided going because I figured it was a bunch of yuppie healthy people.

So I went today and was shocked.  Seriously if that is what it means to be healthy then call me healthy.  People were buying tons of this weird food and they were all fat like me. :)  So I guess eating healthy doesn’t help you lose weight.  Good to know.

Harry’s was cool.  The largest amounts of samples I have ever seen in my life!!  Tons of GREAT looking things to eat and the coolest thing was these huge things of peanuts and you pushed a button and fresh peanut butter came out.  I made peanut butter out of honey roasted peanuts and it will make you slap your mother, it is so good.

Then I tried one that was peanuts, almonds, and chocolate chips!  Holy crap, it was good.

I think I am going to enjoy shopping healthy.