Travis Johnson

A milestone reached in the Johnson House

Today was a big day in the Johnson house.  I bought Kourtney and McKenna their first fishing poles Thursday.  We tied measuring cups to the line and let them practice casting in the living room.  They got pretty good at it.  So, we went fishing for about 10 minutes on Friday.  They haven't talked about anything else since then. 

So, we planned a Saturday fishing excursion in our neighborhood.  There's a great shaded walking bridge just around the corner.  That was our spot.  McKenna didn't get a hook like Kourtney...just the measuring spoon.  She has no fear using her rod.  I could visualize Kelly or me going to the ER with a hook in an ear or worse.

Kourtney on the other hand pulled in her first fish ever at age 3.  I couldn't stop smiling watching her lasso and wrestle in this monster.  She dreamt about this fish.  Except she did say that the fish in her dream was a little bit bigger...not hard to imagine.  Still, it was a Kourtney sized fish and a great point of celebration, a new milestone reached!  What a great girl. 

Disney Day: Best Moment & Worst Moment

Best Moment: Holding the girls during Belle's Story Time in Fairytale Garden.

Worst Moment: Accidentally Brushing my teeth with Desitin.  The upside is that it will prevent diaper rash on my teeth.

Breather

Tonight, we kick off a summer message series for emerging leaders at Life Pointe and I'm not there...kind of a weird feeling. While I'm here in Orlando, Paul and Jesse are leading this service. I can't wait to see the video.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying my 3 girls (and the player to be named later). We hit Disney tomorrow for McKenna's birthday. The girls are super excited and I'm kind of second guessing my decision to bring the single stroller. Oh well.

I'll be back in the office sometime on Friday to hook up with Paul to get our bearings. I'm glad to be here, especially knowing that our team is even stronger than before and can function well without me.

Thinking Through Process

I leave at 4 in the morning for my coaching network.  Being in this group is one of the best decisions I've made.  I imagine that I'll be a part of some type of coaching network from here on out.  It has definitely helped me to think through process and get some better tools in hand.  And, I've gotten to hang out with some really incredible guys and take in some great sights.  The only downside is that the alarm comes really early.

An Angel in Disguise

This man, W. J. Roberts was not real.  He taught me how to shoot a gun when I was four (walked a way with a black eye).  He taught me how to watch out for my brother (and not crawl under trains).  He taught me how to love (by reading the Bible to my grandmother when she lost her sight).  He showed me how to  live and have fun.  His prayers were heard by God.  He knew how to serve humanity.  He carried the message of Jesus with humility.  He showed me how to die. 

On the 4th of July, I said goodbye to a giant of a man.  Any sadness I have had is far exceeded by thankfulness for having been loved by Pop Roberts.

Broken Hearted: I lost two great men today

Last night at 1 AM, I lost my grandpa, W.J. Roberts.  This afternoon, Ivan Ortega lost a brief but aggressive bout with liver cancer.  I want to share a bit about these two men:

Ivan Ortega
Ivan came to Life Pointe two years ago.  He was a continual source of encouragement, optimism, and generosity.  On his first Sunday, we were kicking off a "Canning Hunger" project where we asked our neighbors to help us fight hunger by contributing their canned food to needs in our community.  He and Ela, without being familiar with our church and after a decision to renew faith in God, collected more food than anyone else.

That attitude of generosity permeated everything he did. At the time, our church was in a critical stage of formation.  Ivan's attitude has been significant in the formation of the DNA of our church.  This is tough news to share.  I really don't know how to do it other than to just say how special Ivan was and how much he'll be missed.  Information on the funeral will be posted here tomorrow and emailed to our church database.  The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, you would contribute to the University of Miami - Jackson Memorial Transplant Center.

W.J. Roberts
My grandfather was an amazing man.  I've shared my heart about him and who he was.   You can check out those posts below.  Tonight when I got home from the hospital, I sat down with Kourtney and explained to her that "Pop Roberts" died.  You can imagine the questions. 

As I talked to her, I thought about how Andrew and William Ortega grieved over their dad.  I listened to those personal words honoring their father in his last moments.  I thought about the sadness I feel for my mom, her brother Mike, and us grandkids.  And, I wondered if I would be a man that would be grieved like these two men.

That remains to be seen.  I know that when I got home, I wanted to hold my family and love on them more.  I want to model how to honestly and passionately pursue this Christ that pursues us.

WJ Roberts: A Gift of Heritage - Grandpa: Following Jesus Is a Manly Sport

Mac Attack

I finally broke down and got a Mac Book Pro.  The girls are always after me to go to the Apple store to play on the photo booth.  They had the Mac most of the night snaggin' pics.  We had fun...glad they're in bed so I can mess around with it without starting a war.

a man child

update: isn't this a cool little guy?!  Note that he isn't carrying a man bag.

Mom

There are two moms involved in my life.  My wife is mom to our girls, I'm madly in love with her.  She is an unbelievably amazing woman.  And, there's my mom.  She's always caring for people...a great mom to me.  I love both of you so much.

Grandpa: "Following Jesus is a Manly Sport"

I had a great time hanging with my grandpa this week.  He's a great man.  Check this out about my grandpa, who we call the "Silver Fox":

• He was in the Battle of the Bulge, the bloodiest battle for the Allies in WWII. 19,000 Americans soldiers died- almost all of those in the first 3 days of fighting.
• After the army, he fell off the roof of a house, broke his neck, and drove himself to the hospital.
• After the army, he went to Lee University and lived in the same dormitory I would eventually live in when I was a freshman.
• He never lets us leave his house without prayer.
• He is kind, wise, and listens to people.  That made him a great pastor.
• Up until he was 85, he kept a vegetable garden that was over an acre big.
• After my grandmother died, I went on a double date with him while I was in college.
• He remarried a really beautiful sweet lady...proving that he still had it after all those years!  They make a really great couple.

This is the coolest guy in the world.  When I was leaving his house, yesterday, he looked at me with a little gleem in his eye, took me by the arm, and said, "I'm going to tell you the same thing Jesus told Peter.  'Feed my sheep.  Feed my lambs.  Don't sheer them.  Don't fleece them.  Don't try to separate them from the goats.  Just feed them." He still has a fire in his belly for the mission of Jesus.  I love that he continues to show me that following Jesus is a manly sport.