Al Jennings II

Relaxing Monday

Today it took me a little while to get going. After last week's success seminar that I did in Indy and the weekend encounters, my body called for rest. After relaxing this morning, I did some planning this afternoon. Around 6pm I took a little nap and am now watching the Cav's vs. Hawks NBA playoff game. During the game, I filled out some paper work on Al's golf tournament that I need to get his signature on and fax to Phoenix tonight. Then, the family (except Annika) will watch 24 (our favorite TV show). We'll have some special guests, the Turner family join us and then we'll have a meeting with them afterwards. The Turners like to hang out late. My kind of folk. Ok, well that was my Monday up to this point. Make it a great week and do something great!

New Year's Eve Mind Dump

The house is kind of quiet right now. No wii game is playing, I don't hear any television in the background; if the kids are here they are very quiet. But I did hear Adrienne piddling around and talking on her phone. I'm sitting in my office doing some organizing, jotting down ideas that pop into my head, reading unifyer comments and being deeply touched by one of them in particular.

I've been thinking off and on all day about what I wanted to do tonight to bring in the new year. I thought about having fellowship with some friends. Stuff is kind of quiet around here. My cell phone is quiet. But right now, strangely enough, I'm sort of feeling like (okay, now my cell phone has a text message) an old black-and-white classic movie on the AMC channel. Oh well, we'll see what Carla wants to do was she comes home. Okay, she just came home with the kids. Now the noise will start up again.

If you are reading this on New Year's Eve, you probably are just as bored as I am. I'm out of here. Interesting blog, huh!

Have a Happy New Year you'all! May 09 be a breakthrough and breakout year for you!

Time to Refocus

Here is a brief update of what I've been up to. Right now my focus is refocusing. I have allowed my inbox and e-mails to get out of control, so now I'm going through the painful task of drilling down through those piles of stuff. I really want to have a clear head moving into 2009 because there are so many things I want to accomplish for the kingdom of God.

The end of the year is a good time for me to sort of clear my head and as I said, refocus. So I encourage you to clear out any clutter that you may have and write out your vision and goals for 2009 so you can know what you want to accomplish and spend next year getting things done.

What turns me on

"When something good happens to one of your players that's the reward of being a coach".
Coach K
Our ultimate reward as believers (including ministers) is to hear God say, "well done" (Matthew 25:23). However, on earth: my reward as a Pastor/Minister is when something good happens to one of my members or partners. That gives me a buzz!

Taking a little break

You may have wondered where I've been lately on my blog. This summer has been busy with 3 kids in golf. I usually take it light during the summer; spending time with the family and helping the kids with their golf (although I haven't played 1 round of golf myself) . I'm taking a bit of a break from blogging and twittering.
Just wanted to update you; I'll be back. Keep checking in.
We serve a good God who is merciful, faithful, and full of grace. Fellowship with Him!

Orlando Golf Trip

I'm here with Al at the Bill Dickey Invitational golf tournament in Orlando. It's an invitation only tournament that features some of the best minority golfers in the United States. The players room together, have curfews, wake up calls, and spend time together. Tiger Woods niece, Cheyenne is in the field.
As sort of an ice breaker, they had the kids fill out questionnaires/profiles about themselves. Then they had the kids stand up and read each other's profile. One of the girls read a profile of another female golfer who's last name is Payton. One of the questions is, "who is your hero?" She wrote, "My uncle, Walter".

Golf week

The Golf season kicks into high gear with our kids. Al had a good performance in State this Tues/Wed (9th place) and has been showing tremendous progress. He made first team All - State. He has some big tournaments coming up. He has been invited to participate in the Bill Dickey Invitational @ Disney World. It features some of the best minority talent in the United States. Cheyenne Woods (Tiger's niece) is participating. She is quite good. She is going to Wake Forest this year as a freshman on a golf scholarship.
Al, Jasmine, and Annika all have a busy summer playing in golf tournaments. Carla is with Jasmine today in Auburn for a tournament. I'm staying home to do some work. Depending on how much I get done, I may go up to see some of her round. It all depends on how much I get done.
I look forward to ministering the Word tonight at Kingdom Door here in Fort Wayne. Busy but fun day!

The Masters

As many of you know, I was given a 50 yr. birthday gift by the Summit congregation to attend the Masters in Augusta! To all those who participated in this gift, I want you to know that I really appreciate it. The experience was absolutely awesome. I wanted Tiger to win, but he fell a little short. However, the Masters is bigger than Tiger Woods or any other individual golfer. Someone told me that it was an experience that you couldn't describe. They were right. TV doesn't give it justice. The scenery is breath taking. Even a non-golfer would appreciate the beauty. We had a blast. I'm trying, but words can't really do it justice. Truly remarkable.

Mission Holy Spirit: Recovery of lost property Pt.III

Now for the rest of the story. It's kinda long, so bear with me. I went in the restaurant to look for the phone. I couldn't find it anywhere on the seat or around where I was sitting. The car that was currently parked near where I had parked, moved. I looked where the car had been. Still no phone.
I left and went to a meeting with one of my leaders, Wes Jackson. I told him the story. I asked him if he would be another set of eyes and look again through my car  (I had already looked) to see if he could find it. Nothing. But.....God......the Holy Spirit spoke to him while he was laying on the back seat and told him that the phone was in the seat at the restaurant (he didn't tell me at the time what the Spirit of God told him. But he asked if I didn't mind if he went back to the restaurant and look. I said ok.
When he went back to the restaurant, he told the manager he came to look for my phone. They told him that they had already looked for the phone and it was not there. Wes persisted because of what God told him. He asked if he could look anyway.
Listen, the Holy Spirit knew who to give these instructions to, because God knew that I wouldn't have done what Wes did. He knows our frame and everything about us (Psalm 103.14). Check this out. Wes lifted up the seat and saw something shiny. The manager is looking at him like he's crazy. People are sitting in the booth behind looking at him. Wes persists. The mgr looks at him like, yeah right, it's probably a fork or something. He asks for a tool to dismantle the seat. Now the mgr gives him a really strange look, but relents and asks the cook for a tool. He said the only thing he has is a knife! Now the cook is watching along with everybody else. Wes takes the knifes, pulls the seat apart and found my iphone!
Holy Spirit, mission accomplished! Thanks Wes, for obeying God.

Mission Holy Spirit: Recovery of lost property Pt.II

Ok, let me pick up where I left off.  Well, I took my friend home and then went back to the restaurant to look for my phone there. On my way there, I'm thinking about where my phone could be. I thought maybe I had my phone on my lap and when I got out of the car to go into the restaurant, it fell onto the ground. Negative mental pictures were running through my head, such as: seeing my phone fall off my lap onto the cold snow and a car driving over it and completely demolishing my phone. Have you ever had crazy thoughts going through your mind. They come from the enemy who delights in disturbing your peace. Don't let him do it. Cast down all negative thoughts (2Cor 10.5). Anyway, I arrive at the restaurant and looked around in the area where I parked. Nothing. There was a car that was parked in the same general area where I was parked. Oh no, did the car run over my iphone?
Ok, gotta go, but I'll be back. So please come back for the rest of the story. I don't want your eyes to get tired. You may need to get back to work anyway. Alright, I'm out like the wolves in the fur. Expect nothing but the best today!