Grasshopper Snack from Josh Agerton on Vimeo.

But we had much more happen on this trip beyond grasshoppers.  It was a great time to be with the leaders of Buloba Community Church and spend some time visioning and planning for the next few years together in our partnership.  More to come…working on some videos that tell more of the story.

As usual for Camp Cornerstone, our staff team was called on to be the humor for the week.  Rusty was “Coach Armostrong”, the Assistant JV Football Coach from Slapchoppe High School (somewhere in the FL panhandle).  Amy Coxwell (Our Youth Minister) was “Professor Wordsmart”, a witty-wordy lady from Harvard University and Assistant Editor of Webster’s Dictionary.  Michael McClendon (our new Director of Elementary Ministries) played all kinds of roles.  Special helpers Dan Harris and Warren Stiles played Ruff Stuff, the Crime Fighting Dog.  And I became “Wade Winalot”, Australian Phenomenon and Celebrity Game Show Host.  We all had a great time and it was a great practice for us to “change and become like little children.”  We all learned so much from being around these kids.

Before the first night Brian led our team in a prayer that really set the tone.  I can’t remember it word for word now but he asked Christ to bring us back to being children again…coming to him with a reckless abandonment and learning how to worship again from these kids before us.   So we went for it and had a great time.  I’m sure Christ was smiling on us and delighting in just watching his kids.

So a big thanks to all how served these little ones this week…it was a great one.

Find more videos like this on Cornerstone Community Buzz

Find more videos like this on Cornerstone Community Buzz

So we are at the beach this week for a much needed vacation.  Just me, Leslie, Benjamin, Liza and Grace and maybe a few guests.  We are having a great time down here…kinda like kid’s camp or something.  Complete with 2 cases of capri-sun, hot dog’s, fruit snacks, spf 50 sunscreen, a whole laundry basket of beach toys.  Grace and Benjamin are much more into the pool than the beach.  Liza is a beach girl through and through.  But Benjamin was really liking the beach last night at about 9pm when we were running around with our flashlights hunting down some crabs.  Great boy time.  Needless to say we are all sleeping pretty hard.

Leslie’s down the beach right now hooking up with some old friends she grew up with that were going to be here this weekend.  So glad she can get away for a while.  They’re all going out to dinner tonight.  We’ll be eating some grill cheese and fruit snacks.

About to lather up the spf 50 and head out again.  Much Love from St. George Island – Josh

I asked him if he ever falls asleep. His reply, “No…this is my work.” He takes this very seriously. He went on to tell me the benefits of using a bow and arrow vs. a gun: he can hide in the dark and if a thief enters he can shoot them and they will have no clue where the arrow came from so he remains safe. Also, the tip of the arrow has barbs that will tear the flesh if they try to pull it out. Also said, once it passes into the body, the persons blood will allow the wooden shaft to continue deeper into the body. John was a soldier in the Ugandan Army…this dude is like mini African Rambo.

So, we’re all feeling pretty safe now, not that we weren’t before. But I can tell you one thing…I won’t be snooping around the house at night. TIA baby.

Leslie has been a mom now for over 5 years.  I’ve seen her carry all three of our children with love in her own body.  And then I watched her I give birth to our son Benjamin and then our twins, Liza and Grace.  That alone is an impressive feat.  I’ve seen her pray over all three of our kids night after night.  And I’ve watched her go on completely exhausted from sleepless nights of calming fears and comforting hearts…all with a beautiful smile and lots of laughs.

She makes lunches, cleans up poop, washes little people’s clothes, mops the floor, cleans up throw-up, makes beds, cleans bathrooms, plans meals, buys groceries, checks out teachers, and gets three little ones dressed every day.  She teaches, nurtures, listens, laughs, disciplines, and prays all day long for each of them.  And all of this she does with a joy that I know no other to have.

Aside from all of this (which is really so much more that I have written here), she works as a Speech Pathologist to help provide finances for our family.  And she loves those kids she serves like crazy too.

But then it keeps going…she is a beautiful wife.  She listens to my crazy thoughts, bears with my grief, celebrates with me in my victories and goes to the low places with me in my disappointments.  I have to tell you, it is not easy being the wife of a Pastor…especially this one.

So today we honor Leslie, this special woman who’s heart has been entrusted to us but ultimately belongs to Christ the King.  Love you – Josh, Benjamin, Liza and Grace!

Here’s a little video I put together for Leslie last year.  Check it out…

Mother’s Day 2008 from Josh Agerton on Vimeo.

1. 26.2 miles is a loooooong way to run.
2. My wife has got some serious guts.

I’m just so proud of Leslie and it was an amazing to watch her prepare over these last 6 months and then accomplish her goal. She ran strong until her IT band began to give her knee problems at around mile 21.  She had to walk/run the final 5 miles and take a break at mile 24 because the pain was making her so nauseous.  But somehow she pulled herself together and persevered to the end, finishing strong.  Her final time was 4 hours, 46 minutes, 06 seconds.

Did I mention how proud I am of her? An amazing daughter of the King, incredible wife, mother of 3, daughter, sister, and now a MARATHON RUNNER.  Leslie, you are a Champion!

J

Just a normal Friday out running errands with the family.  Van was in the shop so we all took off in Daddy’s “Big Truck”.  A good weekend all around.  Love these little people!  (Thats Benjamin, Grace then Liza in the back seat…and of course the beauty in the front seat…Leslie!)

While I was away with the guys Leslie and the kids had a weekend in Florida with the grandparents…complete with slip n’ slide, adventures in the forest, swimming pool, and an incident with a ant bed. But they all survived as well and we all met back at our home on Saturday night.

So here’s a pic of Benjamin (now 4.5 years) and Liza on left and Grace on right (2 years). Appears that they are checking out some tasty rain water concoction.

But summer is closing fast on us. Leslie is starting back to work this week…first time in 5 years. She’s going back to her old trade as a speech pathologist working part time for Auburn City Schools. And Benjamin starts his little pre-k program the next week. Please keep our family in your prayers as we make some transitions in these next weeks.

I’m sure this weekend will involve several things: an assortment of meat on the grill; a hi-performance ski boat; wake boarding; wave runners; golf; cruel pranks that might leave a mark; a sore back; sleeping good at night; staying up late telling old stories of the crazy stuff we used to do.

But to know why this weekend will be so special you have to know about Jim. I first met Jim about 22 years ago when I was in the 6th grade. He was a senior in high school and stayed at my house for a Discipleship Weekend that our church had. Over that weekend Jim took a special interest in me. He let me hang out with him and his friends and I got to sit in on all their bible studies. After they all left on Sunday afternoon I knelled on the floor beside my bed with my parents told Jesus that I wanted to give my life to him. This weekend marked the beginning of my relationship with Christ but also marked the beginning of my friendship with Jim.

Through high school Jim served as in Intern with our youth group and was a close mentor. We spent many mornings together at “The Grille” before school to talk things over…the usual high school temptation stuff…girls, drinking, peer-pressure, having integrity. We also did a lot of other fun and crazy stuff along the way. But the greatest thing Jim did for me was model what it means to follow Jesus. Looking back I watched him like a hawk…the way he handled school; his work ethic; his character; the cars he drove; the way he treated girls he dated; how he worked out. I can even remember his bible…a worn brown leather cover with Jim Harold Pierce II written in gold. Then I remember years later being so honored to stand beside him when he got married…that he would choose me to be there for such a special occasion in his life.

The neat thing about this weekend is that most of the other guys who will show up have had the same experience with Jim. And they are some of my best friends…Judd, Franko, B-Money and many more.

So pray for us as we celebrate and remember! Maybe I’ll update with a few pics along the way. Should be interesting.