Travel

Along with the glass flowers my Aunt J. sent me, a button found it’s way into the shipment. A button she thought would be appropriate considering this post on the “War Against Whining.”

So with that sentiment. Here is a gratitude list:

I am grateful …

to live in Florida, to work for a cause I am passionate about, that I am not on some reality show … yet …

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I can’t tell you how happy I am to be at home. I *love* conference time. I love catching up with friends and making new friends.

But … I have to tell ya’ … being gone from home for ten days is tough. I really like my home :).

I also seem to always plan to do more blogging than I am actually able to accomplish during conference week. However, I have the next two days as comp days so I plan to do summaries of the conference at some point. There is a LOT of interesting tidbits and quotes to blog about so … stay tuned!

Today was kind of a day for us to have fun. Some of the Exodus staff were/are still making their way here from across the country tonight and tomorrow. Most of us went kayaking on the French Broad River for seven miles that runs through the Biltmore Estate.

The Biltmore … kind of nice. I mean, if you had to live in a bajillion dollar mansion … it’d do. We floated past it and it is gargantuan.

Right at where we put in I got stuck on the rocks. I had a bit of a panic as I took on some water. Flashes of last year’s epic adventure flashed in my head. But, eventually I got through them and was on my way.

Eventually I found my pace and learned to navigate through the white-water … ok, it was only a couple of ripples here and there but I have a great imagination.

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Four states in nine hours and no … I did not eat healthy … at all.

It was so good.

I listened to music and talk radio the whole way. I was also hoping that I would get some more inspiration for my keynote a week from Sunday. It is the closing talk of the conference. I already knew what I wanted to talk about but still working out the framework. I think I got it today. So that was the good news.

I also have a new girlfriend in Nowhere, Georgia. I pulled up to a completely deserted gas station in Nowhere and she was standing at the door and it was obvious she liked my car. She did the whole Egyptian head roll from side to side with pursed lips making her weave bounce.

She ended up a total flirt! She even batted her eyes. I love the South.

Got to Ridgecrest and the rooming situation … horrible. I was/am disappointed. Which is even more disappointing because I have a very good friend who works here. I am not going to go into specifics on the blog but … I have to spend the next three nights in … a bad room.

It’s just bad … like … not good … just bad.

The good news is they are trying to do everything to correct the situation. Hopefully it won’t last long.

It didn’t … all fixed and ready to go :).  Yay Ridgecrest!

Anyway, click here for more pictures from today.

Tomorrow, early but not eeeeaaaarrrrrllly morning, I am headed to Asheville NC for the Exodus Freedom Conference.

So exciting! I love the conference.

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[From Trip to Dallas Texas 6/29 - 6/30/8 - a set on Flickr]

We at Exodus have been moving into our new digs all week. Moving an entire office, with twelve on site staff is not an easy thing. However, Scott has done and is doing a terrific job in coordinating the moving, prepping, painting along with a lot of this and that. The youngin’s haver really worked *very* hard with load after load in the U-Haul and painting.

We have a lot of stuff and a lot to paint.

In our attempts to be good stewards of finances, we are moving everything except the huge furniture ( for the movers ). That saved us a ton of money. We also decided to paint the inside of the building ourselves … also saving a LOT of money.

We like that.

So, we started painting yesterday around 2:30 and I left around 9. Then started again this morning at 8:30 am and I left around 5:30 pm.

Now, I am not that old but there was one point when I was sitting on the stairs with my head in my hands thinking, “Whoever said 40 is the new 30 must be some smart aleck 20 year old.”

Hurts:

• Ankles (both)

• Left knee

• Right shoulder

While I am getting a little rickety, I am not that rickety. I have actually enjoyed most of the hard work. Especially considering it is equivalent to really good workouts. Seriously, from head to toe kind of workout. Good times.

The picture in this post is in front of some of my own handiwork. Of course I doctored the thermostat out of the picture. It makes it purty-er. I did have fun watching all of our team and volunteers bring life to our new home. And lemmee tell you, the new home office needed a makeover :). It was stuck somewhere back in the eighties, and not in the cool way either.

There is a little more to do tomorrow but I won’t be there. I will be on a plane headed to Dallas. I will be there for a total of 24 hours for a meeting with really cool Pastoral group. Please pray for safe travels and wisdom for the meeting.

I have been in Fresno California all this week for the Exodus West Coast Freedom Conference. As a result … swamped. I haven’t been able to blog like usual and after this is done I am speaking at a Church Sunday morning and then headed to a retreat through next Wednesday.

So, I don’t know if the other guest bloggers will pop in or not, or when or how I will be able to blog over the next few days so I asked my friend Ocki (pictured above) to kind of preside over things.

Consider this an open thread

PS, I have been on Twitter and Facebook a lot, even more than usual during this trip though.

Snow Capped (Cloaked?) Mountains around Salt Lake City Utah

and here is why we are here :).

Christian Organization Welcomes Dialogue on Homosexuality at Fresno Event

Conference to Feature Dr. Nancy Heche

Orlando, FL- Residents from Fresno and surrounding areas will gather at a conference on homosexuality being held April 3-5 at The Bridge Evangelical Free Church. The conference, sponsored by Exodus International, will provide encouragement and help for those who personally struggle with unwanted same-sex attraction as well as friends, family members and community leaders concerned about this issue.

The event will feature guest speakers including author Joe Dallas and Dr. Nancy Heche. As a single parent who experienced the international media rush during her daughter Anne Heche’s highly visible relationship with Ellen DeGeneres, and a widow who endured her husband’s diagnosis of and subsequent death from AIDS, Nancy Heche brings a spiritual focus to the effects of homosexuality in a family. She holds a doctorate in pastoral counseling and has a private practice in psychotherapy specializing in communication and relationship issues with families, couples and singles. The event will also feature workshops on a variety of issues related to homosexuality.

The organization welcomed news that local groups are protesting the conference saying it is grateful to add its voice to the social discussion on a crucial issue that affects faith, family and public policy. Exodus International is the world’s largest Christian outreach to those seeking freedom from homosexuality.

“This event centers around the truth, hope, and freedom many of us have found through Jesus Christ,” said Alan Chambers, former homosexual and President of Exodus International. “Our lives have been transformed by the compassion of Jesus Christ and we welcome anyone interested in our unique perspective on this difficult issue.”

To receive media credentials to cover this event or to arrange for an interview, please call the Exodus Press Office at: (321) 279-8965.

More information on the conference

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Founded in 1976, Exodus International is the largest Christian organization dealing with homosexual issues in the world today. With over 200 affiliates in its network, Exodus is a dynamic outreach ministry dedicated to sharing the hope of freedom through the power of Jesus Christ.