Goodbye house. You’ve been a good one. I will miss you.  Even though you are just “sticks and stones”, you have played an important role in our family’s growth. Thanks for the memories. The fact that we sold you so quickly only reveals what a desirable place you are to raise a family in.

There is laughter and dancing and tears and pain embedded in your walls from this little band of Hamptons. You have witnessed a lot. Thanks for the great graduation parties for our girls. I couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate those significant milestones.

Thanks for hosting all the meetings and small group gatherings and desserts that we had for folks at church. You were great for entertaining in.  And may I add that your basement is the best one I’ve ever seen. Everybody loves your basement. It was the ultimate “man cave” and I enjoyed watching some great ballgames with my buddies down there.

Thanks for covering us when our hearts were breaking. When news about our health or relationships or the rebellion and struggles of teenagers threatened us, you seem to stiffen your back and give added protection to our fragile family. Thanks for being a safe place.

Our little Tazzy is staying behind with you. Only you and our family knows where you are hiding her. She loved laying on your deck in the sunshine.

You’re going to be getting a new family tomorrow. They need you as much as ours has. They have younger kids and more of them who will fill up all of your spaces and make lots of noise. But I know you won’t mind because that’s what you were built for. They will make their own wonderful memories inside your walls. And they will really enjoy the pool, the hot-tub (Oh, how I will miss my “Pleasantville” times) and the basketball court (where I humbled all of my daughters’ boyfriends). Take good care of them, as I know you will.

You, like so many things we are leaving behind in Canton, will be replaced soon enough; but you will never be forgotten. Glad you were in our lives, 8271 North Casswell.

Filed under: John's posts on March 4th, 2010 | 2 Comments »

Moving is a humbling experience, in my opinion. I’ve always felt that about every move, but particularly about our current move.

To begin with, you take all your worldly possessions and put them in boxes, cardboard boxes at that. If you have professional movers assisting with the move–and we have been blessed to have that in most of our moves–they are in charge of wrapping, boxing, and loading your precious goods on a very large truck that will transport them hundreds of miles from where they have been peacefully resting for several years to a new, sunny location. I’ve always thought of the Scripture that says, “We brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out.” No moving trucks will follow us to our final destiny, thank God.

The time between packing/loading and leaving is an awkward time. It’s the definitive “in-between” time. For all practical purposes, you are no longer where you used to be and you aren’t where you are going to be. You’re just kind of stuck between what was and what will be. I’ve learned that I don’t do very well in those kinds of situations. I alternate between sadness thinking about what I’m leaving behind, and a restlessness about getting on with what I’m heading in to. It’s one of those rare times in life when you really don’t have to be anywhere, report to anybody, and have anyone expect anything from you. That time doesn’t last long.

In the mean-time, you live among the boxes. You have to think through things like, “Will I need that for a few weeks?”; and “Did I (or did they) pack that already?” and “Where is that (fill in the blank)?”, or, more to my liking, “I can’t believe we didn’t get rid of that!”  

One of the guys packing us today spent all day in our kitchen and dining room wrapping stuff up…and he wasn’t loafing or slow, either. He worked hard for over 8 hours. We really did get rid of a lot of stuff…and yet, somehow, we still have a full days worth of wrapping in just two rooms! Amazing.  

My main man, John Ortberg, has written a great book titled “When The Game Is Over, It All Goes Back In The Box”. Highly recommend, as I do all of his books. Ortberg says, “I saw an ad that featured this tagline: ‘Yesterday I didn’t know it existed; today I can’t live without it.’” That’s what people who crave the “richness of having” over the “richness of being”, think like.

What’s the difference? The richness of having usually means we acquire more stuff; richness of being is generally associated with giving more stuff.

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

The truth is, there is a box in your future and in mine. It may be the more traditional “casket-box”, or it may be the smaller “cremation-box”; but a box nonetheless. But the “life that is truly life” cannot be defined or confined by the boxes of this world. And I, for one, am very glad about that. 

Now, seriously, where did I put that…

Filed under: John's posts on March 2nd, 2010 | No Comments »

Aside from the wonderful church family that I am leaving behind, there are some local favorites that are unique to the Canton/Northeast Ohio area.  Here are my Top 10 places/things/stuff in Canton that I will greatly miss and remember fondly:

10. Playing pick-up basketball games with the “old guys” on Thursday nights at Edgewood Community Center.

9. A hot fudge waffle sundae-with a little bit of peanut butter sauce mixed in–at Milk ‘N Honey

8. Playing golf at Edgewood Golf Course

7.  My neighbor Tony. (Seriously, this guy took care of the outside of my property, fixed broken things around my house, helped my daughters with their cars, got me into my house when I locked myself out… Neighbors like him are hard to come by)

6. Playing golf at The Sanctuary

5. The “Signature Salad” with Marcus’s home-made salad dressings at FCC’s Connection Cafe (I know, I said I wasn’t going mention anything from the church, but this salad deserves special mention)

4. Watching the Cavs in the Showers Family Suite at The “Q”

3. Playing golf at Congress Lake Club (Noticing a theme here, are we?)

2. Walking in Price Park

And the Number 1 thing I will miss about Canton… 

Shopping on the cheap at Gabriel Brothers. You gotta love it!

Filed under: John's posts on February 24th, 2010 | 2 Comments »

I heard it said some time ago that those closest to a leader will determine the level of his success. I have come to believe that those closest to me are crazy. It’s not entirely their fault. I seem to attract them.

What my crazy staff did for me in my final days at FCC is the kind of stuff that made me hire them in the first place, trust them completely, and love them deeply.

It started with a dinner last Monday evening in a fancy downtown dinner club for the staff, Elders and spouses. The “highlights” of this night were:

-Being served by a waitress named “Bon Qui Qui” (don’t mess with Bon Qui Qui)

-Being interviewed by a Chris Farley like character who sounded a lot like a guy I once called a donkey–only I used the King James Version word

-Having my head “photo-shopped” onto the body of former FCC pastor and legend P.H. Welshimer (It is scary how authentic this thing looks. People who don’t know the background will actually think I posed for this)

-Receiving a beautiful Waterford Crystal set to serve my famous sweet ice tea in

-Hearing words of love and gratitude that I really don’t deserve but will treasure always

Then Sunday came. My final day at FCC. I’ve only had three of these kinds of moments in my life and they are hard-to-predict events about what can happen at them. I was once again blown away by my staff’s creativity and obvious love.

-It started when my daughters took to the platform and began to share some of their story. I have to say, this was THE highlight of the morning for me and my wife. It may sound like a proud father talking–and believe me, I am–but they seemed so natural speaking in front of so many. They had a little routine they did that seemed like they had been doing it for years, like they had been on tour. My girls are a trip…and a beautiful gift that God has entrusted to us. Thanks Anna and Rachel! What you did was “bizzare” and so touching.

-Then two of my favorite characters came out: Vinny and Sal, complete in their purple tuxes. Vinny and Sal have a strange knack for knowing how far to go without going too far. They were at their best yesterday. We spared no expense (and I do mean NO expense) to bring them in from Jersey.

-The pictures of me aging through the years was a scream. I especially liked the one they projected of me 12 years from now. (Hint to my new church at Journey: Google actor Nick Nolte’s police mug shot from a few years ago and you’ll get a good idea of what’s coming for me. Not pretty)

-The “John Hampton Duet CD collection” almost made me wet my pants I laughed so hard. That was amazing! If they don’t post that one on the church website, I will post it here. It was incredibly embarassing and incredibly funny.

-The video highlights of our 12 years here was one of the most beautiful gifts that I could have receieved. A mega shout out to Kevin Root, FCC’s hard working Tech Director, who spent weeks researching, editing and compiling that video. I bet he doesn’t want to hear another sermon from me for a long, long time. That was a true gift of love. 

-The plaque given to me by the Elders totally captured in a few phrases our relationship of working and serving together. Thanks guys. You have made my work here a joy and not a burden.

-They “retired” my one of my sweater vests and hung it from the catwalk over the stage. Honestly guys, I thought you liked my sweaters all these years. Wish somebody would have told me!

-The congregation in both services gathering around my family to pray for us was a surreal moment. I felt almost dizzy being surrounded by so many who want nothing else for me than to follow God’s leading and do God’s will. What a humbling experience. Every pastor should have a few moments like that in their ministry.

-The topper of the morning came after the 11:15 service when my favorite cousin, “Cousin Eddie” made one last appearance to assure the FCC congregation that they were in good hands with him staying around. Eddie, I love you and I believe in you…but we got to get those teeth fixed brother! It’s an embarrassment to the family.

-Finally, my family was driven out of the worship center in a golf cart…how fitting…to a wonderful reception and receiving line where I heard many more words of love and appreciation that I really don’t deserve but will treasure always.

It was quite simply, the best send-off ever. It was crazy good. And I am one blessed preacher to have known, loved, been loved by and served with this wild bunch.  I wouldn’t have missed these last 12 and a half years for anything and I’d gladly do it all again.

Filed under: John's posts on February 22nd, 2010 | No Comments »

We’ve all seen that Mastercard commercial that details the prices of various items and then, at the end, an experience that no can put a monetary value on takes place, and they say something like: “spending time with your dad in Norway…priceless”.

My wife and I received one of those priceless gifts this past weekend.  A dear couple from our current church asked us if we could stop by for just a few minutes. They said they had a gift they wanted to give us that they could not wrap up.

Melinda and I arrived around 12:30PM on Saturday, not knowing what to expect. After a quick tour of their house and the usual pleasantries, the wife said, “Pastor John, after you announced your resignation, I was so sad; but the very next morning I was doing my daily Bible reading in Isaiah 52 and I read this verse: ‘How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” (Is. 52:7) The husband opened up a Bible and read the text to us.

Then she said, “Pastor John, that’s what the Lord told me you are going to do in Florida. You are going to bring good news to people who have been needing someone like you for a long time.”  I was touched by her insight, and in my spirit, I agreed with her spirit.

But then she said, “Then the Lord gave me a song that I want to play for you. It’s the song ‘How Beautiful’, sung by Twila Paris.” I am very familiar with this song as I’ve heard it played at many weddings. The last verse of the song contains this line: “How beautiful, the feet that bring the sound of good news and the love of the King.”

Then she said, “And the Lord told me, we (her husband and her) are supposed to wash your feet. Would that be okay with you?” At this point, I am completely overwhelmed. I have rarely been a part of foot washing services and those few that I have, I have been the one washing somebody else’s feet. I can’t remember the last time somebody offered to do this humbling and beautiful act of love and servanthood for me.

Of course, we consented. The husband got a small tub of water and some towels. Melinda and I took off our socks and shoes with tears streaming down our cheeks, feeling so unworthy of such an honor by such incredible servants of Christ.

The song was played in the background. The husband poured water over my feet and tenderly dried them with a towel. The wife then did the same for Melinda. We sat there in silence until the end of the song, amazed at the simplicity and the power of such obedient, open hearts. We all knew this was a holy moment and our words would just ruin it. And then we closed in prayer together.

I have received many cards, emails, meals out, and thoughtful gifts since announcing our transition to a new ministry. But I have never received a parting gift like that.

In the words of the popular commercial, I guess we could say:

One leather-bound NIV Bible to read from: $50.00

One Twila Paris CD to listen to: $15.00

One foot-washing done with incredible love: Priceless

Filed under: John's posts on February 15th, 2010 | 2 Comments »