Four Year Anniversary

This past week Betsy and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary.  It is hard to believe it has been that long since we said I do on August 6, 2005 at Brushy Creek Baptist Church.  I am sure I will say the same thing at 10 15 and 25 years.  It is amazing how fast our time together as flown by.  To celebrate we went to Bone Fish Grille and ate way too much.  As we waited for our meal we talked about the things we have been a part

of since we got married.  Check out our list below.

* Betsy graduated from University of Georgia Law School
* Helped with a church plant in North Augusta, SC – TrueNorth Church
* Stepped out in faith to begin an new church plant in Fountain Inn, SC – Capstone Church
* Moved 5 times (Thompson, GA / North Augusta, SC x 2/ Fountain Inn, SC x 2)
* Purchased two homes
* Totaled one car
* Had 4 cars
* Done a good bit of traveling (Charleston, Fripp Island, Boston, Montana x3, Venezuela, Israel and Turkey)
* Had Luke Caleb Tanner – May 17, 2005
(update: Luke was born in 2008)

It has been an amazing journey together and I look forward to what will be down the road.

Reset Button

Tomorrow the Tanners will be heading out west to Montana with Betsy’s parents to visit Betsy’s brother and family.  Ben and the rest of his family (Giner, Blaine, and Cade) haven’t had the chance to meet Luke yet.  So we are setting off for a week long journey starting in Billings and then heading up north to Yellowstone.

This is coming at a perfect time for me.  For the last month I have felt like a project manager with all the teams coming to help work on our building.  And it was a such a blessing to have over 100 people PAY to come help the Kingdom.  But while spinning that plate (copy right Mike Fielder) others have been neglected.  So this coming week I am hitting the Reset Button and coming back focused on our fall and what God is going to do.

In the past year as a church plant I have noticed the difference between plants that fail and those that survive.  The one variable: PARTNERSHIP.  Of the planters that have survived they have had at least one person to help carry the load.  They have had one person who stands by their side while the fiery arrows come.  Who is strong when you are weak, and allows you to recharge.  I am lucky to have such a person in Chris Barrineau our Executive Pastor.  I can step on that plane tomorrow knowing that Chris has it covered and will allow me take some deep, refreshing breaths.

We had a great Lead Team meeting last night (fresh breath) and have a TON of things planned for August as we get geared up for Fall!  I am praying that the Lord continues to send the workers because the harvest is plentiful.  We will be resting up this week because we know that when Aug comes it will be pedal to the metal as we penetrate darkness with the Good News.

Montana here we come!

Bullet Blog Time

These first two weeks of March have been CRAZY! And I have allowed my blogging to slip. I might of lost the 3 people who check this thing out. I am just going to do what I call a “Bullet Blog” – just dump all the things going on in my head.

* Capstone’s official launch occured 9 weeks ago. It seems like it has been 9 months. I wonder what I am going to say when it has been 9 years.

* I am amazed at the people and volunteers God has sent to Capstone. We really do have an amazing team of people making this thing happen.

* I have been to a LOT of leadership events in the last two weeks. God has been reminding me that I have neglected my role in the leadership of His church in order to start His church. I am beginning to focus on not just making Capstone happen, but leading it in a way that will muplity His Impact and His Glory.

* For Real – snow one week – suntan lotion the next week. Betsy bought Luke suntan lotion this week. Welcome to the South!

* We put a contract on a house this past weekend. We are excited about getting our own place, but sad about leaving the Barrineau compound. I am sure the guest house will not stay empty long.

* Big News coming Sunday for the Capstone Family that will send us in a new direction.

I have several more things to add this week – stay tuned.

Busy Week

This week has been full of events, meetings, and fun.  I had the honor of going to Catalyst One Day (church leadership conference) in Atlanta Thursday and I will write some of my takeaways next week as I begin to process how to apply all that God revealed to me.

On of the fun things was Luke’s first haircut.  I had seen kids in commercials and movies who went to get their first haircut.  So I figured this was going to be a kicking and screaming with some lady I don’t know holding sharp scissors next to my boys ears.  Luke apparently is not a normal first cut customer.  He did great.  He didn’t even squirm.  Here are few pics from Luke’s first haircut.