Our old Christmas tree was finally trashed and we got a new one this year. I requested only one thing—colored lights. There was a time when I hated colored lights but I was wrong and repent of my sin. White lights are fine and very classy. But I just wanted an old school, have fun with the funky lights kind of tree. My wife and kids decorated it entirely in ornaments that we have either made or been given over the years. It’s beginning to feel a lot like….

Above: Jeff Sparks hiking up the trail.

Below: Aaron Laird practicing for Sunday mornings—a little snake handling and yes it was alive.

Below: Jeff Olive trying an after dinner vienna sausage—even roasted they tasted horrid.

Aaron Laird, Jeff Sparks and I decided to go on a 23-mile hike. IT WAS THIS BEAUTIFUL.

Above: Aaron Laird (Dayspring worship leader) contemplates deep things. Forget singing, you have to think to lead worship.

Below: Jeff Sparks (He’s like the wilderness MacGyver) gets the campfire going.

Below: I find a mushroom as big as my head. I was tempted to taste but better judgment set in (ok Dennis M. or anybody, if you read this—what type of mushroom is that?).

Last night I took my kids to their school fall festival. We had a blast. Spending time with them is the good life.

On Saturday, I ran the Tyler Half (13.1 miles). Don’t make fun of the photos, I didn’t even know they were being taken or I would have looked more manly. I had a good finish time: Finish (Chip) Time: 1:55:08.4.

My Gosh, no one told me how many hills the run had. Next year I will have to train for those hills. My running partner really pushed me, especially on the hills because strangely he liked them (Crazy I tell you). At mile 10 I hit a major wall but was able to push through and finish strong.

Next week I am hiking a marathon. I’ll explain and post some picutres if I survive!

Dayspring turned two years old today, but today really wasn’t so much of a celebration of Dayspring as it was everyone who makes Dayspring possible. There are so many people that have come together and work like crazy to make this portable church happen each week. We know that the rewards of our labor are everlasting, but hey, setting up and breaking down a church each week can wear anyone out! I am so thankful to be surrounded by people who can look past the early mornings and weekly tasks and see that what we are doing is influencing the lives of so many in Tyler.

• Today was our first Sunday to worship at our new time of 11:00. I don’t have the final count from this morning but we had about 280ish in attendance.
• We had 6 adults and 3 kids join the church this morning.
• We held a church fellowship event this afternoon at a camp called SkyRanch in Van Texas. We had 189 in attendance and this was at a camp about 45 minutes from most of our people and in the cold, drizzle, rain –amazing turnout and an amazing time!
• It was my privilege to baptize 11 people into the body of Christ this afternoon. How cool is that!

Now that we have property, it is time for us to share our thoughts and dreams for our future worship space. We are hosting two town hall meetings so that we can share our thoughts with the architects.

In response to our town hall meetings, the architects will work on Dayspring’s master plan, as well as a design proposal for our first worship space.

It is important that we share in this process together. Please arrange to be at our meeting on Sunday October 18^th from 12:30 to 2:00 at the Carmike Theater.

If you cannot attend that meeting, we encourage you to come to another meeting that will be held on Tuesday the 20^th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the Dayspring office (located at 123 E. South Town Drive).

Dayspring now owns 16 acres on Cumberland Road in South Tyler. The property is adjacent to Faulkner Park. This has been a long process of searching, prayer, and congregational decisions. We now enter a completely new phase to determine what to put on the property. How can we best use this property to live out our faith and share Christ? How does one build a church without walls?

I guess we are about to find out…

I took this photo of the iconic depiction called Christ—the Giver of Life in the church that is built over Jacob’s well (now in Palestinian Territory). I also had the chance to drink from the well. The water is cold and refreshing and I did not get sick like I thought I would. J

Great water, but nothing compared to the real giver of life, the one who gives us living water.