From Indianapolis - Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting

Most of you are not Southern Baptist. Some of you who are could care less. Here is an overview:

1. Johnny Hunt (Woodstock, GA) was elected president on the first ballot. Six men were nominated so a first ballot win was a bit of a surprise. Johnny, like Frank Page, is the real deal. No pretending -- BTW, FBC Woodstock has planted 78 churches under Johnny's leadership. Considering 5 percent of our SBC churches ever participate directly in a new church, I say Johnny and FBC is in a league of their own.

2. Frank Page, in typical Frank Page style, knocked a home run in his president's address. What you see is what you get with Frank. Frank is a gentleman with a real passion for changing the world and a behavioral track record to match. His hammer was applied to himself: The problem is not somebody else, the problem is me. He challenged Baptists to stop pointing fingers. He spoke with the personal responsibility of an Old Testament prophet.

3. 7000 officially registered, voting, participants at our national meeting. Those numbers continue to drop as we continue to run the meetings the way we have for years. Not only do the numbers drop but our hair gets more gray and we all walk bent over a bit more. We are as white as we have ever been. Then, we have the courage to go out and yell at pastors who are fighting to survive about how they need the courage to change. That is probably as controversial as I can be at this point. Enjoy.

From Indianapolis - How are YOU Doing?

Chris Beard, pastor of First Christian Assembly in Cincinnati, told me something I will never forget about friendship. He said in effect, real friendships are like reading a great book, you can put it down, but when you pick it back up, you can start back right where you left off.

People you will never know are on the list of good books I am picking back up this week in Indy. Will Langford, Bill Hounshell, Ty Salter, Bob and Debbie Bieke, Roc Collins, Gale Hartley, Joey Herrod, Tim and Renee Brogan, Ron and Emily Herrod, and many others. Friends from the past who value me puts wind in my sails. None of these guys care about my ministry role. They only care about me. They ask, How are you doing?

Carl Martin from Crosspoint Bluffton is really good at this. I am blessed with a lot of S.C. friends like that. Seldom do I ever have a conversation with Carl (and we have a lot) that does not include the question from him, How are YOU doing? He says it in a way that does not let me off the hook. Ask somebody that question today. I know I will be asked all day long.

Trying to get back to Dad Regrets. Too many sights and sounds in Indy. I am like a dog at a whistler's convention. Hang with me. BTW, Guidestone 5K was cancelled due to rain. I did get the t-shirt though!