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Blog Stats (Take 2)

It's only been two months since our last milestone here at phillipmccart.com.  We are reaching another very quickly.  At some point today one of you will be hit number 20,000.  That sounds very weird to me considering we hit 10,000 only two months ago.  Thanks for reading everyone and good luck.  I think I'll have a little prize for number 20,000.  If I can get tech savvy enough to figure out who it was that is.  Here we go!

The Only Way This Is Funny

Yesterday as we were waiting for Savannah Grace's and Rylee's surgeries we went back and they were given an oral sedative to prepare for anesthesia.  Rylee was never really effected by the sedative.  She was talking and clapping with rubber gloves on her hands as they took her back. 

Savannah Grace on the other hand was hilarious.  A few minutes after taking the sedative, Savannah Grace began to have the eyes half closed, heavy head deal.  Then she just started laughing.  Her words were beginning to slur and she thought the whole thing was incredibly funny.  Anita, Mom Bishop and I were laughing our heads off as well.  SG was as high as a kite.  This is the only way this is funny. 

In the midst of Savannah Grace's drifting off to "happy land" I did have a frightening thought.  I hope she is never in that state of mind because of poor choices with drugs or alcohol.  I know this is an uber-serious way to look at an honest situation but I can't help being a dad that wants to protect his daughters.  Having never experienced anything like that myself I can't imagine the harm that could be caused when you don't have control of yourself.

As for now, both girls are doing great and SG is back to her old self.  I'll never forget that little moment though and how funny a sticker of Tigger on the wall was for just a few minutes.

"And We're Back"

We've just gotten home from our very busy and stressful morning.  Everything went wonderful.  I must thank the staff at the South Park Surgery Center at Charlotte Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat.  We were cared for very well by every piece and part of that organization. 

Thank you to the many of you who prayed for our family today as well.  Both surgeries went very well without any complications and the girls are resting now.  As a matter of fact, I may sneak a little rest in myself.  It's been a crazy week and there's still a lot to do this weekend. 

Today

I'm asking that each of you that read this blog would stop and pray for my daughters Savannah Grace and Rylee today. We're headed off here in a short time to go downtown.  Savannah Grace is having her ear tubes removed.  She's had them in since she was 18 months and apparently it's not good that they haven't made their way out on their own. 

Rylee is having ear tubes put in.  She's had continual fluid on her ears since October and had several infections.  We're hoping this will help keep her healthier as she has been sick several times since our move to Charlotte in December.

I know this is just outpatient stuff but it is surgery and both of them will be going under anesthesia which causes this parent a great deal of stress and worry.  If you could, please pray that the girls would handle it all well, for the wisdom and accuracy of the Doctors and for peace in Anita's and my heart.  Thank you all so much.  I'll update as soon as I can.

The Process

Pastor Steven preached not long ago about "The Promise, The Process and The Payoff."  It was a sermon that impacted me greatly.  I blogged about it here.  Little did I know that God wasn't finished teaching me this principle.  The last few days have been difficult.

Over the last four years God has been teaching me a great deal about humility, honor and authority.  I'd love to say that I've handled this season of teaching well but at the beginning of the lesson I was less than mature.  I'll spare you the details but through circumstances I've learned a great deal about how to honor God. 

The biggest thing I've learned is that in order to honor God I must honor the authority He has placed me under.  This is a principle, not an opinion.  I haven't always done this very well.  A little less than three months ago my family and I moved from a church we love, friendships and family to follow God's call on our lives in Charlotte at Elevation Church.  I was asked to serve as the Family Pastor overseeing the ministry of Children and Students.  This has proved to be a demanding and difficult transition.  I have enjoyed so much serving our church along side so many talented and committed volunteers.  I believe we are on the cusp of seeing God do some amazing things in the days ahead.

As we move forward I will be serving in a different capacity.  I will now be giving more focus on Ekidz as I serve as the Children's Ministry Director at our Providence campus.  This is a sudden shift but a shift that we believe will allow me to give even more focus on what I have been passionately doing in my short time at Elevation.  Though this may not have been what we had originally planned we know that God is at work and we are grateful for the opportunity to serve Him in any way.

Just so there is no confusion at all I want to be clear about the reasoning behind this change.  There has not been any moral or ethical failure on my behalf.  This decision was made to utilize my gifts in the best way possible for the good of the church and me.  The leadership of our church has a great responsibility to manage and lead in a way that will serve God best.  Decisions like this may not always make sense to everyone but they are approached with much wisdom and prayer.  I personally trust and believe in the leadership of our church and I am excited about the new way I will be able to serve in a specific way to the families of Elevation Church.  I know that this, just like my previous role, may not be the only way I will be asked to serve.  The process is just that, a process.  My hope is to be faithful with whatever I am called to do as long as I am capable of serving.

I want to thank Anita, my incredible wife, for loving and trusting me through all of this.  There is no way I could have made it through these last four years without your love and support.  I love you!

We Understand Less

Why is it that when we hear the messages and the stories of God and His people we "amen" and clap?  Yet when we find ourselves in the middle of those same lessons and teachings we are confused and weary.  God is teaching me something.  Through being sick and situational changes I find myself smack dab in the middle of a talk I heard at C3 last week.

Bishop TD Jakes was the highlight of the conference for me.  I wasn't able to enjoy myself like normal since I was quickly coming down with the flu during our trip.  But nothing was going to stop me from experiencing Bishop in person.

His message was entitled "The Order of the Bread."  Not a real barn burner of a title but accurate.  He spoke out of Luke 24 where Jesus walks with two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.  The disciples were unable to recognize Jesus until at dinner Jesus  took the bread, blessed the bread, broke the bread, and gave it to them.  Bishop went on to narrate what must have been going on in the disciples hearts and minds.  They had seen and heard that process before.

Bishop then paralleled that process of taking, blessing, breaking, and giving to different Biblical characters.  He then turned it on us.  He said that we're all somewhere in the process.  He also said that in the end we realize the the breaking stage is the blessing stage.  My heart is heavy today.  There's a multitude of reasons why but the point is that I'm trying hard to keep the perspective that God is at work in my heart and life.  He has never failed me despite my habitual failing Him.  He will always be at work on my behalf.  I will trust in Him and Him alone.  Thank you God for holding me in the hollow of Your hand. 

Not Said Enough

I've got a lot going on today but I'm struck with the notion that I am in love with my wife.  I don't say it often enough.  I just thought I'd say it again.

I Love You Anita!!

It's Monday

I've willed myself into the office today.  I didn't want to miss Jessi's first Monday Momentum (our version of staff meeting).  I can breathe a whole lot better, my throat no longer hurts, and I'm coughing a lot less.  However, I've lost between five and ten pounds over the last few days so my energy level is quite low.  I've still got the "loopy" feeling in my head.  I'm attributing that to my equilibrium being off.  I'm sure Randy could tell me why exactly.

There's so much to do.  Wheels have been spinning and that usually means a lot of details to sort through.  Not to mention that we've got to get our Student Ministry small groups in shape for the big plans we have down the pipe.  Good thing it's only the end of February and Easter isn't for another... THREE WEEKS?!?!?  There's just something not right about St. Patrick's Day being less than a week before Easter.  Very odd.

Some Things Just Take Time

I'm a quick fix kind of guy.  I love microwaves, fast food, and almost anything that is preceded with the word "instant."  But some things just take time.  I'm laying here trying to recover from the flu as fast as I can.  I'm taking more medicine than I think I ever have, getting more sleep than I have in the last three months and I'm laying down almost the entire time.  There isn't a quick fix to getting your body back into good health.  The problem with that is life doesn't take a time out while you're incapacitated. 

So when my eyes get tired of watching television and I can't seem to sleep anymore I'm left alone with my thoughts.  This morning while everyone I know and love here in Charlotte is at church, I'm laying in my bed pondering life's mysteries.  Here's what I've come up with today.

Top ten things in my life that "Just Take Time."

1.  Deepening my relationship with Christ.
2.  Cultivating a successful marriage.
3.  Parenting.
4.  Building a unique and dynamic Family Ministry.
5.  Getting in better health.
6.  True friendship.
7.  Education.
8.  Maturity.
9.  Being a self controlled man.
10.Being financially secure.

I'm sure this list is different for many people but for me this is it.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.  Happy Sunday everyone.

Well....

Apparently this is going to be a longer road to recovery than I'd like.  I figured that once I got some medicine in me that I'd be back to normal.  I've never had the flu and I hope to never have it again.  My sweet wife is the most servant hearted woman on earth.  She's taking care of everything.  Seriously, anyone know of a free vacation spot I can send her?  She's more than earned it.

I've also succombed to the reality that it would not be wise for me to attend church tomorrow.  For some reason people think the Family Pastor could infect the entire EKidz department (well... at least Anita does).  So I'll be hunkered down trying to get rest and recover quickly.  I'm so bummed about missing church.  It's going to be incredible!  I must thank Rob and Jennifer for working so hard on Student Ministry Small Groups.  We're hoping to see many, many students sign up.  Also, a huge thank you to Erin who spent her Friday painting in preparation for the new series in Quest.  Talk about dedication.

I suppose that's all for now.  Lift it up for me.