#10: Cruise
The summer of 2011 marked the first time I set sail on a cruise. My friend Adam and I enjoyed a 3 night trip to the Bahamas and we enjoyed every second of it. From all you can eat food, to Adam dressing up like a woman (I promise there's a good explanation), we couldn't have asked for a better time. If you've never taken the time to take a cruise, don't hesitate. You'll love it.
#9: YoungLife
When I first moved to Orlando, I made it a priority to find men a few years younger than me in an effort to help them grow and develop in their faith. I was extremely fortunate to find Esteban and Kellen within just a few weeks of being in Orlando last year and I never imagined I would find young men with such integrity and character. Unfortunately, they lived on the other side of Orlando and meeting with them on a regular basis became pretty difficult.
At the beginning of 2011, I began to search for ways to invest in younger guys a little closer to my side of town. YoungLife is a student ministry that engages students all over the country, with a heavy emphasis on reaching students that would typically never step foot in a church or youth group. After discovering that this organization was ministering to students at a high school just 5 minutes from my office, it became obvious that YoungLife would be where I plugged in. The volunteers, staff, and students have been such a blessing this year and I can't adequately explain how much I've loved partnering with them in reaching people for the Gospel of Christ.
#8: Believe It 2011
In order to give an accurate description of this stellar event, I'll have to start by explaining the origin of what we've come to call "Believe It". It was a warm day in December of 2010 (I love Florida) when 2 of my closest friends and I decided to take the day off work. After deliberating how we would make good use of the day, Ryan realized that he was able to get us into the Ripley's Believe It or Not museum. I won't lie to you...the museum sucked. However, the ridiculous facts and displays that we saw in that place stemmed a quote that all of us would repeat countless times throughout the day. Any time one of us saw something that was absolutely insane, we wouldn't hesitate to say some version of the following statement: "Oh my gosh, I don't believe this!" To which the other 2 would immediately scream in unison, "Believe it!!". Believe It 2010 had been born and the rest of the day was filled with non-stop cheap entertainment, yelling "Believe It" as often as we could.
Fast forward to another warm December day in 2011 (seriously, Florida is awesome)...
Ryan, coming through in the clutch once again, managed to get my roommates and I into Universal Studios absolutely free. Not only that, but he had a booklet full of coupons that would let us eat extremely cheap. On our way to the park, we recognized that this day would be dubbed "Believe It 2011" and determined that we would make "Believe It" an annual event.
It was no surprise that Believe It 2011 blew our socks off. Roller coasters, pictures with the Grinch, and even the Blue Man Group show (deeply discounted of course) made this a day that none of us will soon forget. Getting to experience this with some of the greatest guys I know made this a bigger blessing than I deserve.
Ryan, Adam, and Matt: You guys are unbelievable (believe it!). I can't thank God enough for the role that each of you play in my life. Thank you for letting Christ shine in you.
#7: Entreleadership
Entreleadership is a book written by Dave Ramsey and I finished reading it last month. If you are interested in business at all, this is an absolute MUST read. Dave walks you through practical business processes that have drastically affected how I think about my job. Vision casting, Hiring and firing, working with vendors, team management, sales and marketing, the importance of communication, cost control...Dave covers everything you could possibly want to know about running a business, and he does it from a position of having successfully owned and operated a thriving company for the last 20 years. This isn't a book on business theory, his advice is road tested and it works!
I realize that I sound like an infomercial right now, but this book has undoubtedly had the 2nd biggest impact on my life, with the first being the Bible. I loved it so much that I bought a copy for my CEO and the directors of each of our divisions. I truly believe that the principles taught in this book are going to launch our company to the next level. I'm so excited to see where we go in 2012.
Thanks Dave!
#6: Mentors
If I've learned anything valuable at all in my adult life, it's been this: everyone needs a mentor. Someone older, wiser, with more life experience that can help steer you from making too many boneheaded decisions.
In 2011, God decided to put not one, but two incredibly Godly older men in my life. I'm convinced this is the Lord's way of telling me that I make way too many boneheaded decisions. One mentor just wasn't enough :). Alan Schutz and Chad Cahill have played an undeniable role in my professional development, but more importantly, my personal development. I know with 100% certainty that the sound wisdom these two men offer me stems from the intimacy of their relationship with Christ.
Alan serves as the National Director of Priority Associates, which is the marketplace ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. Anytime someone is the national director of anything, it likely means they're more awesome than the average bear...it's obviously true in Alan's case. Alan blows me away with his ability to connect with ANYONE. His laid back demeanor, his ability to listen, his heart to develop men, and the way he leads his family are just a few of the reasons why I love him as much as I do. I joke that if he ever thinks about moving out of Orlando, I'll chain him to his front porch. He thinks I'm kidding...little does he know that I've already bought the chain.
Chad runs a custom home building firm, is a husband to Bridget, and fathers a youngster named Colt. I love Chad's unashamed honesty. I never leave a lunch thinking that Chad held back, and I cherish that transparency so much. He is extremely passionate about leading his young family in a manner that honors the Lord, and since I don't have a family to lead just yet, that's crucial for me to witness. He's setting a bar for me and he doesn't even know it. He is a generous giver, a strategic thinker, and a great story teller. His friendship has been invaluable this last year and I can't wait to see it grow.
#5: Mortier Cinema
Back in August, we decided that the small 2 bedroom apartment that we'd been living in was no longer up to par. Matt and I jumped ship and moved into a house just minutes away from the airport. We were joined in the move by Ryan who formerly lived on the other side of town, Adam who made the move all the way from West Virginia, and Christian who was moving to Orlando from a town an hour north.
The house is a bit farther from all of our jobs, but the upside is more than worth it. Not only did I get to move in with my best friends, but I got to move into a house in a great area, with tons of space to have people visit, that also had the perfect room for our movie theatre...yep, you read that right. The bonus room in our new house is equipped with stadium seating (3 couches, 2 on risers) a 110 inch projection screen with HD projector, a PS3, Bose surround sound, and recessed lighting on a fader. Needless to say, this setup is perfect for a premium movie watching experience without having to pay $12 at the local AMC.
This house has been the home of countless late night chats, game nights, gingerbread extravaganzas, and movie marathons. Buddy the Elf has even been spotted partying under our roof. I couldn't ask for a better home and for better guys to share it with. To the men of Mortier Cinema and the guests that frequent it, I love you guys.
#4: Dream Job
To so many people, their job is simply a way to pay their bills. They show up, clock in, perform monotonous tasks, clock out, and wait in anxious anticipation for the weekend to arrive.
I am blessed beyond measure to say that this is not my story. I don't deserve for one second to enjoy my work as much as I do. In 2011, I stepped into more responsibility than I ever thought I would be trusted with. After learning the ropes my first year with the company, I had the opportunity to oversee my division's entire budget and run the helicopter business as if it were my own. I got to make decisions that I never imagined I would be able to make.
Not only did I get to manage the business from the office by hiring temp help, reviewing financials, quoting clients, and selecting vendors , but I was also blessed to manage our business on site at various events. Traveling to over 25 events in 2011 and flying over 85,000 miles, I was able to build relationships with several vendors and temp help staff. I'm overwhelmed at the quality of men I had the pleasure of working with this past year.
In 2012, I will be attempting to expand our business into the music and entertainment industry with my dear friend Lucas Pinckard. I'm ecstatic about taking our standard of excellence and quality of service to a market that we've never before entered. The possibilities are almost overwhelming and I can't wait to see how God grows our business as we move forward.
#3: New Friends
I met Aven Pitts at the end of 2010 thanks to my great friend Ben Grande. Aven can make anyone with a heartbeat laugh, he does the right thing when nobody is looking, and he is constantly searching for ways to make people smile. Because of these things and many more, he has easily become one of my most valued friends.
Aven was responsible for introducing me to some amazing individuals in 2011. By inviting me to his small group bible study, I met a body of believers that have blessed me over and over again. Brady & Jennapher White, Joel Coffman, Rebekah Skates, Deanna Schaekel, Neal Faul, Brittany Tovado, and Taylor Allen: You guys are amazing. I value each one of you and I am so thankful to be a part of your community.
Aven also introduced me to several of his friends outside of the Bible study. Amy Boyd, Kriss Pugh, Justin Peters, Kayla Todd, Piper Williams, Alex Parish, and Nick Melvin: Your awesomeness blows my mind and I have loved getting to know you. I can't wait to grow our friendship in 2012.
Aven: Thanks for sharing the wealth. You and your friends have made this year an absolute blast.
I'm 25 years old and the lion's share of my friends are married, engaged, or about to buy the ring. That being said, I've been to more weddings than I care to count. As many weddings as I've been privileged to be a part of, none quite compared to the one that took place in Thomas, OK this past May.
My soul smiled bigger than it has in recent history when I saw two of my best friends pledge to spend the rest of their lives together. Corey and Brooke are undoubtedly two of the greatest people I know. They pursue Christ first, and each other second. They are full time missionaries with a college ministry called Student Mobilization and it's easy to see that they were made for it. They love people so well, and God is using their marriage to change lives every single day.
I knew both Corey and Brooke before they knew each other. Individually, they were full of compassion, disciplined, passionate, and servant hearted, so it was no surprise when they met and instantly hit it off. Their bold intention to keep Christ in the middle of their dating relationship was encouraging beyond belief and everyone could see it. When I found out that they decided to tie the knot, I was ecstatic. Watching them say "I do" was overwhelmingly surreal for me, and I'm not sure I'll feel an emotion similar to that until my own wedding day.
Corey and Brooke: You are an inspiration and encouragement to every person that knows you. Continue passionately pursuing your Creator and inviting those around you to see the pursuit. You're changing the world one day at a time and I'm honored to call you friends. I love both of you more than you know.
#1: Dad's Salvation
Like so many young men and women, I was raised by a single parent. My mom wore all the hats as I was growing up, and my father was a distant figure in my life. I would see him once or twice a year, but there was very little depth to our relationship.
4 years ago, my dad moved from Texas to Oklahoma. I was in college at the time and I was hesitant to let my dad into my life. He had been a source of disappointment over and over again during my childhood, and I wasn't jumping out of my seat to invite that disappointment into my adult life. Slowly but surely, God softened my heart toward my dad. We began talking pretty frequently and I realized that I genuinely enjoyed his company.
Our relationship was growing at a pace I never anticipated when I took the job in Orlando. I thought for sure that I would move across the country and watch this new relationship fade, but I couldn't have been more wrong. I continued talking to my dad multiple times a week, and the relationship continued to flourish.
On a visit to Oklahoma this past October, a prayer I'd been praying for four years was answered. I was in the room when my dad stepped into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It started with a simple conversation about his siblings and it ended with a move of the Holy Spirit that couldn't be denied. The room was full of tears and emotion as my dad's eternity took a sharp turn for the best. Watching a man realize that he no longer would be doing life on his own gave me a rich reminder of the value of my own salvation.
In the three short months since my dad's commitment to Christ, I've seen his heart change in ways I never thought possible. I am so proud to say that my father is now a faithful tither, and he is in the process of breaking some major addictions that have held him captive for over thirty years. Watching God redeem His broken children through Jesus is beautiful.
Dad: I love you so much, and knowing that I get to spend eternity with you brings me a joy that I can't explain with words.
In Closing,
If I had to choose one word to define my year, it would unquestionably be this...blessing. God has blessed my friendships, my work, my family, my ministry and every other area of my life. It's beyond my comprehension how a perfect God can lavish so much love on someone as imperfect as myself, but I'm grateful He does just that. Resting in the knowledge that Christ's blood covers my imperfection gives me hope and drives me to do everything in my power to honor the God that gave me life.
If you're still reading this, thank you for giving me your time. I hope the words above give you a rich respect for God's goodness and endless love. I pray that God blesses you in 2012 like He's never blessed you before.
Love well & shine bright,
James
