The 2am rule

There are probably many RULES associated with 2am...Nothing good happens after 2am...No human should be awake at 2am...why do the best ideas come at 2am...but here is MY 2am rule:
If I can arrive home from a speaking engagement by 2am, I will do so. Why? A couple of reasons...
1. 4-5 hours in my own bed beats 7-8 in a hotel ANYDAY!
2. I can wake up at 7am and spend a half hour with my kids before they leave for school, there is no price tag for hearing Gracie squeel "Daddy's home!" or hearing Torrey grunt..."Can I drive to school today?"

Last night the 2am rule was applied (1:57am to be exact). I spent a marathon day...left at 6am at a PGA event doing Chaplain work for FCA golf. The LaSalle is a "Major" on the nationwide tour and is always well attended with many PGA tour players coming down for the week.

My good friend and creative communicator Scott Davis from Holland, MI traveled with me and gave the group great encouragement from Collosians. Scott's talk on how we worship a BIG JESUS was not only encouraging, but challenging as he reminded us that BIG JESUS lives in US!.

So...What's your 2am rule?

Blessings~

Jay

How do you live?

I was having a thought this morning and decided to share it and see if it makes sense to anyone else!

Have you ever noticed how winter and spring can dictate how we act and live? Here is my analogy: In the winter, the weather is cold, dreary, rainy, snowy, etc. We hole up in our homes, shutting windows, locking them down, closing the blinds to keep out the winter and keep in the heat. In the spring, we fling open the windows, we unlock the doors, we open the blinds to let the fresh air and sunshine in.

How many of us live in the winter all year long? We hole up inside ourselves. We lock down the windows of our souls and who we are. OR do you live in spring? Do you fling open the windows of your life, letting others in freely, unlocking the doors on your life and sharing with others.

I don't know about you but I would rather live in the spring all the time!

~Have a great day!
Laura

A Perfect Day

We had a perfect day here in Alma Michigan...sunny 75 degrees light breeze and no humidity. I wish I could bottle today up and take it with me to January!

We had a wonderful and much needed holiday weekend. Topped it off today with a round of golf this morning (shot 74 my season best) sat under an umbrella, sipped cool drinks and watched the kids play in the pond all afternoon...perfection!

I leave tomorrow for Chicago and an assignment with FCA Golf to lead chapel on the Nationwide Tour. My good friend Scott Davis from Holland, MI is going with me to speak, it should be great fun hanging out with Scott.

Laura will be at home preparing two talks for us to give next week at the Association of Marriage and Families Ministries Conference in Charlotte NC. We are very excited to be presenting Holy Sex -- Discover the Purpose of Marriage and The Intimacy Dance -- five fundamentals to bring hope to your marriage at this national convention.

Here's praying you had a great Memorial weekend!

Jay & Laura~

What a day for a parade!

Yesterday we were privileged once again to an annual treat here in small town USA Alma, MI. The highland festival is a Memorial weekend long tribute to Scottish history.

Each year one of the highlights is the Highland Festival parade, complete with bagpipes, fire engines, clowns and beauty queens.

We traditionally watch the parade go by from our church parking lot and end the parade with a hotdog, chips and a coke. The proceeds going to help our church mission trip to Honduras.

Its a Norman Rockwell slice of americana and we wouldn't miss it for the world.

Enjoy your holiday!

Jay & Laura

AHHHHHH!

Yesterday I was privileged and blessed to spend the day at Donovan Serenity and
Wellness Spa, in Alpena, MI. Sandra Donovan, spa owner, has attended our Celebrate Your Marriage conference for a number of years with her husband. Early this spring I received an email from her inviting Jay and I to be her guest at the spa. SILLY JAY did not want to go! So I took a friend. What an extraordinary experience!

We begin the day with many yummie goodies! Our first treatment was a facial and what an amazing treatment it was! Sandra used "age treatment" on me! YIKES! It was to lift my wrinkles and the edges of my mouth!

Next I moved on to hydro-tub! Steaming hot water and jets along with sea salts! What a wonderful way to relax just before my hour long massage! I am not a touchy feely person- I live in a box and you must be invited into my box- but this massage could have lasted all day! I was a noodle at the end!

After lunch~ which we ate outside amidst the sound of fountains and birds singing~ the day was capped off with a pedicure including a paraffin wax!

I am telling you all this because of the huge blessing that this woman bestowed upon us! She was the arms of Jesus loving us all day! Sandra blessed us with her gifts more than she will know!

I pray I can be as generous and bless others as I have been blessed by Sandra Donovan.

~ Laura

Like a Rollercoaster

Why is it somedays life just feels like a rollercoaster? With emotions running at extremes?

Yesterday we finished our final Celebrate Your Marriage Conference where Anita and John Renfroe made us laugh and eloquently spoke on the "Music of Marriage". Driving home we had such a sense of peace and relief that our "Spring Season" was over.

As I pulled in the driveway my stomach droped 6 feet as I realized we had accidentally left Laura's laptop at Grand Hotel! AHHHHHHHH~ After a few phone calls and a couple of WONDERFUL Grand Hotel staff did some looking, we were informed that all was safe and sound.

I got up this morning to beautiful sunshine, fresh faces heading for school and steaming hot coffee. I hit the office at 8:30am full of Vim and Vigor ready to empty my Inbox and clean up all the financials and bookwork from the weekend. In the midst of settling the financials I had the sinking feeling we were missing some serious cash...my suspicions were realized when a bank pouch containing several hundred dollars was no where to be found...we'll keep you posted~

This afternoon, we were blessed with an eloquent foreword from Ken Davis for our new book The Spark. Ken's kind words and beautiful writing lifted us greatly.

No matter where life has you on your rollercoaster ride, remember it's a journey, ENJOY IT!

Flowers!

Laura & Grace planted flowers today and I have to say that the older I get the more I appreciate the simple things in life!

We sat on the back porch after dinner and just enjoyed the beauty and the color that now graces our back yard and front porch. Tonight, Laura taught Grace proper watering techniques and I believe we have a budding... no pun intended, horticulturist in our home.

Speaking of flowers, there is no doubt that the flowers will be in full bloom on Mackinac Island as we head up Sunday for our final set of Conferences. This Sunday, Monday and Tuesday will be our largest group of the Spring and we are excited to share with the what it means to make their marriage "Gold".

Blessings~

Dating!

Jay and I just returned from our favorite date: golf and lunch! We played nine holes of golf, enjoying the beautiful sunshine and lovely scenery. We then lunched right at the golf course. Dating is something that unfortunately gets overlooked in our busy lives, especially if you are married!

Why Date? Because it brings back the romance of the early years. Dating creates conversation that cannot happen in the midst of running children here, there, and yon. Dating is a great way to reconnect in our marriage where we have allowed other people to crowd out each other.

Dating is a must in marriage! What are some of your favorite dates?

~Laura

Great Ministry at the TPC

Last week I had the privilege of MCing the prayer breakfast at The Players Championship held at the TPC Sawgrass near Jacksonville, FL. The banquet hall was filled with nearly 1000 people, hundreds of whom were local high school boys and girls golf teams.

Throughout the morning I had the great honor of interviewing countless golf pro's like Aaron Baddeleywho shared not only about their golf game but also about their faith in Christ.

The morning speaker was none other than Tom Lehman multiple PGA Tour winner, British Open Champ and the most recent US Ryder Cup Captain. Tom's testimony and Clear Gospel presentation was a perfect fit for the young people in attendance and the Spirit of the Lord moved mightily.

5 down, 2 more to go!

WHEW!!! We have just returned from our 5th Celebrate Your Marriage conference for the spring- we have 2 more next weekend! It has been a great season of celebration and renewal for couples. We have had some great words of wisdom from special speakers. This past weekend, our special guest was Phillip Yancey, author of many christian books such as "What is so amazing about Grace" In his talk this weekend he commented that some have called it "what is so annoying about grace"! HOW true! I have always believed that when it comes to loving someone and trying our best as christians to live what Christ has taught, I would rather err on the side of grace vs. the side of the law. BUT at times that is annoying! It is not easy to give grace when we would rather judge. It is not easy to dispense grace when we would rather find fault and blame. It is not easy when we think so highly of ourselves and would rather point the finger at someone else rather than give grace.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God
~ Ephesians 2:8

Grace is a gift: to us from God that we might be saved and we must give it freely to others.

~Laura

Happy Mother's Day

I was talking with a friend last night who commented on how nice the weather forecast is for today, Mother's Day. To which I replied, "It's always nice on Mother's Day, not even Mother Nature would mess with Moms!"

All kidding aside, today is a day to honor the wonderful women we all have in common, MOMS. It's not only a day to remember all the wonderful things mom's do and are for the rest of us, but a day to reflect on the character qualities that make YOUR mom special.

For me, my mom reminds me that it is always better to laugh then to get bogged down in the drudgery of life. That a good meal served around a TABLE is part of what makes family. And most importantly that Jesus is the reason for every season.

My mom's love and faith in Jesus and her willingness to pray for me even in my darkest days of rebellion are a big part of why I am able to minister Jesus Love to others today. THANKS MOM!.

Don't fail to remember all you mom gave or continues to give you today!

blessings~

Jay

A rare moment

It's 8:15pm and the sun is setting on a PERFECT Michigan day. Sunny, 75 degrees, gentle breeze, no humidity, perfect.

We had dinner on the patio, then Laura and Grace left for a birthday party. Torrey had homework and I found myself with about 45 minutes and nothing to do...like I said, a rare moment.

I sauntered over to the hammock which sits on our patio and decided I was going to "do" nothing! I watched the clouds, closed my eyes a couple of times, listened to the birds.

I saw a jet high in the sky leaving a trail against the blue and was reminded of the only part of my job I really don't like...TRAVEL. Most every part of my job is great, but travel can be a real pain. The sight of that jet and my mind was off racing about this that and the other...about the troubles and challenges that come with life in ministry and I knew I was about to fall into a wallow of self pity.

At that moment, a bird flew overhead, one of it's feathers fell from it's wing and I watched it drift slowly to the ground. I was reminded that my Lord Jesus knew that bird lost it's wing. That his "eye was on the sparrow" and that HE knows and cares about my (and your) troubles and challenges.

In that rare moment I found peace...may you find it too!

Jay

Oh how the Lord works!

We received this email this morning and wanted to share it with you! Thank the Lord for his mighty protection!

Dear Jay and Laura,
First of all let me say that we really enjoyed ourselves at the GPI Asheville conference. Your first skit set to music was *all* of our favorites (6 couples). We would love to get a copy of it if possible. Was it called Romance Set to Music, or something like that? Second of all we have a HUGE praise report. Six of us traveled together in an RV from Dothan, Alabama. On our way home Tuesday afternoon just after crossing the SC/GA border we were hit by an 18 wheeler going at least 70 mph ...we had already stopped in the RV for road construction. Miraculously all six of us, the driver of the truck that hit us, and the truck driver we slammed into all survived with not even a broken bone! Our van that we were towing behind the RV exploded as well as the rig that hit us. I am sending you a link to view the pictures. There is just no explanation of why we are all still here other than God's GREAT MERCY and the POWER of calling on JESUS' name. Feel free to forward if you want. We want everyone to know what the Lord has done for us!

In the palm of His mighty hand,
Jennifer and Sean Nix

http://share.dell.shutterfly.com/action/pictures?ap=&a=67b0de21b3290549c447&pg=1

Here is the local write-up:
http://www.independentmail.com/news/2007/may/01/three-vehicle-wreck-snarls-i85-hours/

Effective vs. Efficient?

Here's the question? Is your marriage effective or efficient? In our Celebrate Your Marriage conferences this spring we touch on this a bit but in speaking with couples afterwards, I believe that we have stumbled on to something....hmmmmm...

So here is the thing~ send me your thoughts about your marriage and whether it is efficent or effective. Here is an example:
The trend in house building and design according to contractors and architects is two master bedrooms. They are saying that by the year 2016, 60% of all homes will have two master bedrooms. Why? Because it is efficient. Due to different sleeping habits, busy schedules, etc. Couples would rather have two different bedrooms than to work thru the issues and challenges!

YIKES!!!

Another example would be a woman who cannot rest and sit at night and enjoy her husband because there are dishes to be done, clothes to be washed. etc.

We need to identify these areas in our marriages where we strive so to be efficent and neglect being effective!

Let me know what you think~Laura

The Beauty of Silence

It is a beautiful morning here on Mackinac Island, MI! We are beginning our season of Celebrate Your Marriage conferences at Grand Hotel. Jay, I, and the kids came up last night to have a little family time. This morning we awoke to the the beautiful sunshine reflecting off the sparkling water of Lake Huron. What a gorgeous view! While the kids slept, Jay and I went out for a brisk morning stroll. We wandered around the bluff that looks out over the water and the Mackinac Bridge; followed the Pontiac Trail along the bluff and then thru a cedar forest. What struck me was the beauty and comfortableness of silence. We did not have to talk just walked. We soaked in the view and enjoyed the company. I guess we could have been trying to catch our breath! I was reminded though that being with someone you love is a comfort and a privilege. Celebrate today the one you love!

~Laura

A great day to travel...to Mackinac

One of the blessings and curses of our line of work is TRAVEL...Airline delays, rental cars, bad beds and long days away from home & KIDS are usually the harsh reality of travel...

BUT TODAY~ the sun is shining, the KIDS are going with us, and we are heading to one of our favorite desitinations...Mackinac Island! For those of you who have never been, you need to get there at least once. Driving up I-75 on a sunny day is beautiful...taking the Arnold Line Catamaran to the island, seeing Big Mac from the water and aproaching the island knowing you are going to step back in time...what a treat.

We are heading to our first of 5 Celebrate Your Marriage Conferences held at Grand Hotel theis May. Pray for us and the countless couples that will attend.

Safe Travels wherever you go today!

What's better than Golf?

Golfing with my son! TORREY, FRED FUNK, AND ME AT THE MASTERS PRAYER BREAKFAST

Torrey is 16 now and is officially my partner on Wednesday night golf league! Our first night was cold and windy, but the prospect of a summer playing with my teenage son kept me warm.

Torrey and i share two loves have really kept us connecting as father and son...the love of golf and the love of music. As any parent of a teenager knows, you have to find ways to stay connected!

Compassion

We just got great news! At our Celebrate Your Marriage conference at the Grove Park Inn we saw 21 children sponsored through Compassion International.

We are geeked to know that 21 underprivileged kids from impoverished countries around the world are now going to be fed, clothed, educated and medicated. Most importantly though is the fact that these kids are also exposed to the life-changing message of Jesus Christ because of the generosity of 21 couples who chose to sponsor.

Blessings to them and to YOU!

Blink!

A miracle occcurred in our home this week! Torrey, our 16 year old son, cleaned his room! Now before anyone thinks I am poking fun at my child, let's be clear, as any parent who has a 16 year old boy, this is indeed a miracle!

Last week, in looking for some items we were missing, Jay and I decided to take a flashlight under Torrey's bed and have a look...YIKES! It was disgusting! Dirty clothes, golf balls, and a host of other items that he probably had not seen in years! He has to clean his room once a week but obviously under his bed is not a part of his room...anyway... When he came home that night we simply asked him to take the flashlight and have a gander under his bed and tell us what he thought. He came back and used these words." I am appalled!" I knew in that moment, in the blink of an eye, my baby had become an adult!

He has spent the last two days cleaning his room top to bottom. He moved, vaccumed, threw out and cleaned up! I walked in this morning to his room and was not ony greeted by a fresh clean smell but also with the realization that in the blink of an eye, Torrey had grown up and in another blink he would be out of the house headed for college!

I hope to treasure the moments and celebrate with him his clean room and the adventure ahead!

Asheville ROCKS

We just got back from a fantastic Celebrate Your Marriage at the Grove Park Inn in BEAUTIFUL Asheville NC.

Taylor Mason had the couples laughing so hard with his blend of stand up, music and yes...ventriliquism (you have to see him to believe it).

John Trent was fabulous. His understanding of people and what makes them tick really helped the couples learn to communicate better. He ended with a challenge for the couples to find one LITTLE thing they could change in their marriage, noting that real change takes place a little bit at a time.

What a fun way to Celebrate!