An AMAZING Weekend!

The title says it all! After a week of installation we finally debuted our new technology system at Meadow Heights Church this past weekend. A HUGE shout out to all those folks who pitched in to make everything happen! Our Creative Arts team is phenomenal and we had so many people who gave their time and energy the entire week.

Thanks to Dustin, Joseph and the entire crew from Ford Audio Video - they worked countless hours all week long to get us ready for the weekend. Thanks to Jeremy, who leads our LiVE! Team and who spent all day Saturday helping install and troubleshoot and for getting our music team ready. Thanks to Matt - BIG TIME! - for coming in early (and all day!) Saturday with his MacBook (ours didn't come in!) and getting our entire video system up and running (including the resolution!) for the gatherings.


Thanks to Craig, who leads our Finale Team, who came in all day Saturday to get our new digital board ready. He had to reset the entire stage, every channel on the board and then tweak out every vocalist and instrumentalist before 3pm!


I'd also like to thank Krys - who ran the new light board all weekend, Scott - for helping Craig and learning a great deal of the sound board himself, Kayla - who rescued all of us by picking up a much needed cable in St. Louis to get our presentation software running, and finally to Melissa and her team for not only getting the visual arts ready, but for taking care of all the Creative Arts team by feeding us food and of course keeping us awake with Red Bull!

There were so many people who made this happen that I'm sure I missed someone. A huge thanks to Bryan, our lead pastor, for believing in the dream called Meadow Heights and for believing in me just a few short years ago. The vision is becoming a reality right before our very eyes!

We'll be posting additional details this week as well as streaming our Imagine Video complete with animation of our Arcadia Valley site plan. We'll also be spending the week "tweaking what's weak" and developing new systems that will hopefully allow us to acclimate and train our volunteers very quickly.

Until then, here' s to catching up on some sleep!

[pictures sent via Blackberry]

Imagine...

I haven't had much time to talk about the new series coming up at Meadow Heights Church. We're calling it "Imagine." All I can say is don't miss this weekend! I promise everyone that you will not be disappointed if you show up this weekend - you will be blown away by what God has been doing!

We've been busy with technology, print materials, videos and so much more. Many of those things will be unveiled this weekend. Bryan will be talking about God and the many miracles we have already seen and are yet to come.

The Imagine Campaign will change Meadow Heights Church forever, and we are hoping that it radically changes thousands of lives for eternity. Continue to be in prayer and then come join us as we celebrate the kickoff of IMAGINE! In the meantime, enjoy this sneak preview!

Techno Thursday

For you tech heads out there, here are some articles that you might be interested in:

• Kindersay - a new website that promotes easy online learning for young children

• Online Videos and Players - once there was YouTube, then GoogleVideo but now what?

• TwitterLife - what do you get when you cross Twitter with Second Life? Check it out.

• Record Labels In the Dumpster? - First it was Nine Inch Nails, then several others, but now...Madonna!

• Grooveshark - a new P2P sharing system that is quite unique...and legal!

[all articles via this site]

A Strange Envelope

A strange envelope arrived today from "Christopher" in Richmond, VA and was addressed to my wife and I. Inside? A pair of work gloves and a note from someone we have never met before that stated that he had been working with Habitat for Humanity and these were his work gloves. Now he wanted to pass them along and asked us to look for an opportunity to help someone in need.

A "Pay It Forward" moment? If you haven't seen that movie, as soon as I saw the note in the envelope I was reminded of that concept - receive a favor from someone and then pay it forward by doing a favor for someone else.

Has anyone else ever received anything like this? Another God opportunity perhaps?

What A Weekend!!

What a phenomenal weekend!

My wife, Melissa, and I took off for a long weekend in the city. After a quick visit to Priceline, we secured a low cost hotel room near Chesterfield. The location was great and they gave us a nice room on the upper floor overlooking the lake. A very quiet and peaceful room! [pics via my Blackberry - we forgot the camera!]


We arrived late on Friday and after a bit of work from the hotel on Saturday morning, we headed out for the "Best of Missouri Market" at the Missouri Botanical Garden. WOW! What an event! For $10, we had the opportunity to sample food and drinks from four VERY large tents as well as visit all of the gardens. I would HIGHLY recommend this event to anyone! It was a beautiful day to visit the gardens as well, which you can tour at any time of the year.


After snacking around the tents we headed back to the hotel for a quick swim and hot tub visit and then we headed over to PF Chang's for our dinner reservations. Melissa had never eaten there before (only once for me!) . Our food and service were decent, but not over the top. Prices at PF's are good and you do get quite a bit food for the price. Check it out sometime.

Sunday morning found us with our friends at Windsor Crossing for their 11am service. They had some really AWESOME stage designs complete with a HUGE up lit cross and what seemed like 1000 candles (check out the pic). While there were some very creative moments, Windsor seems to cut them short with awkward transitions and nary a lingering moment. Just when everyone seemed to get into the creative element they would abruptly end it. They did this multiple times in the service we attended. Great ideas, but the impact fell short. It really makes you appreciate Meadow Heights and how we really strive for "defining moments" and opportunities for God to impact people in those moments.


After the service we drove about fifteen minutes and had a quick bite at the Cheesecake Factory. This is one of Melissa's and my favorite spots. Since it was our weekend away, we didn't want to miss out on any food opportunities!! We did manage to split an appetizer, pizza, and of course some dessert! We hit the Apple store for a few moments as well as a few other stores, but didn't do a whole lot of damage to the pocketbook!

The afternoon? Well, we decided to take in a movie at the mall. Nothing much playing in this small theater, but we managed to settle on a movie called "The Seeker." I had never heard of this movie, but it was very enjoyable and something the whole family could watch. It was a bit dark and some parts a bit scary for the younger folk, but overall a solid movie with decent acting. The highlight however was coming out of the movie theater and near the exit was a young man with a silver tray full of mints!! I have never been to a theater that handed out mints before! An interesting twist on customer service!

After another short rest at the hotel, we headed over to The Melting Pot for dinner. Neither Melissa or I had ever been to this restaurant before, but we had been wanting to check it out for quite some time. We decided to splurge and have the four course meal, which is a bit different at this place. We started with some cheese fondue with bread and granny smith apples for dipping. Next was a salad (for Melissa NOT for me! YUCK!) followed by the main course of MANY types of meats which we skewered and cooked in our broth. The platter was filled with two different types of steak, white shrimp, lobster, marinated pork, chicken and some pasta. We also had a platter of veggies for dipping complete with five or six different types of sauces. This was by far the best part of the meal! Very fun, creative and enjoyable. We topped off our night with a chocolate and peanut butter fondue complete with a tray FULL of different types of fruits, marshmallows, brownies and cheesecakes for dipping. AWESOME STUFF!! This experience took approximately two hours and overall it was very unique and enjoyable. Not sure I would go back again, but maybe for a special occasion.

Bloated and busting at the seams from a day full of food, we crashed at the hotel. Monday found us searching for fabric and design pieces for the launch of our new series at Meadow Heights Church this weekend.

Overall a GREAT weekend and a chance to catch our breaths before the long haul of projects in the next few months. Lots of stuff to do, but I'm thankful for the opportunity to spend some quality time with my wife - she is one PHENOMENAL lady and I am incredibly lucky to have her!!


Thanks for a great weekend Mel!!

Buckle On Your Armor

"Buckle on your armor and advance into battle! Harness the horses, and prepare to mount them. Put on your helmets, sharpen your spears, and prepare your armor.”

Jeremiah 46:3-4 (NLT)

The word ‘prepare’ is used eight times throughout Jeremiah – a signal from God to get everything ready for the times ahead. For Jeremiah, this command was mostly for his troops. But it was also a signal to prepare their hearts and minds for battle.

As we get ready for the Imagine Campaign, God is asking us to prepare as well. I love what Paul says in Romans 6:13 (LB), “Give yourselves completely to God…so you can be tools in the hands of God, to be used for his good purposes.” The first step in our preparation is to cleanse ourselves of sin and become an open vessel to be used by God for His purpose. We do this through confession; an honest conversation with God. And in return His promise is forgiveness and grace.

I challenge all of us to begin the cleansing process this week. Open up a conversation with God and confess your sin. If we do this, God will use us in ways we can only imagine. God can do anything you know! Let’s buckle on our armor, put on our helmets and prepare for an incredible experience with God!

[via Life Force Newsletter]

3 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Stephen Emlund

Stephen Emlund called me last night to talk about some of the print projects we have been working on. Steve has been designing all of our print materials for the upcoming Imagine Campaign. I have to tell you that I am very impressed with this guy. He is creative, works hard and of course puts up with the 500 revisions we do to every single document. You can check out more of his work here and his Facebook page here.

We only talked on the phone for about 10 minutes, but by the end of the conversation, I learned three things about Steve that I did not know. I thought I would share these with you today:

• Steve lived in Lansing, Illinois until the third grade.
• The first place Steve lived in Missouri was a trailer in Park Hills.
• Steve's mom had a horse named "Buck." (Sadly, he died)

Thanks to Steve for all of his work, and look for samples coming soon!

He's BAAAAACCCCCKKKK!!!

Okay. So, it's been like 8 days since I've posted. I think that's a new record! It took about five days to fully recover from strep throat and then of course the big "yard sale" last weekend and before you know it - BAM! It's Wednesday!

But...I'm back and ready to write, so jump right in, feel free to comment and let's get some discussions going - it's been too quiet around here!

PS By the way - my favorite pic from the yard sale: we had several movies for sale - so many in fact, that this guy brought a chair out from the back of his truck, plopped it down and sat for nearly an hour reading the back of every video! Now that's dedication!

Amazon Gets It...Finally!

Tech Crunch points us to Amazon's new music service - amazonmp3. Songs are delivered in mp3 format (which means they'll play on just about any type of player!) and are DRM free. Tracks start at 89 cents apiece, which is far cheaper than rival Apple's iTunes.

Amazon is well known for their great prices, ease of use and stocking pretty much any book or other necessity. It's no surprise that they have jumped into the music download business as well. It's taken them awhile, but they seem to have gotten it right, waiting until the DRM dust has settled and signing most major record labels to contracts.

Will this cut into other popular download sites such as iTunes? Only time (and tunes) will tell!

UPDATE: By the way - you can purchase this newly released album for only $8.99!!

The Gift of Gratitude

Here's another great post from our friends at Zen Habits. Be sure to check out the simple prayer at the end of Leo's post.

WHY LIVING A LIFE OF GRATITUDE CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY

1. Because it reminds you of the positive things in your life.
2. Because it turns bad things into good things.
3. Because it reminds you of what’s important.
4. Because it reminds you to thank others.

Being thankful for what God has already given you can totally change your perspective on life. Try this exercise: think of 5 people who have been influential in your life and thank God for them and their impact. Take time to email, call or write them to thank them for this gift. You may never know how this might return the blessing you have already received.

Smacked Around...

I have been out of pocket the last few days, and despite what you are getting ready say, it was not because of busyness!! I have actually been SICK! And I mean the smacked around kind of sick.

Every once in awhile I'll catch a cold or something like that, but I haven't been "sick" in I can't remember how long. I haven't even been to the doctor (knock on wood!) in over five years!

But Friday I started to feel very crazy in the throat and by Saturday morning I couldn't swallow or take any liquids - the result? Strep throat. Or at least that's what they think. I had to go the emergency room and they said they don't test adults anymore for strep (kind of strange I thought, but not complaining - I hate that swab thingy!). So...they loaded me full of drugs (a big honkin' antibiotic, steroids and Tylenol 3) and home I went.

Today? Feeling a bit better, although it still feels like someone scrubbed my throat with some sandpaper. A bit tired but no worse for the wear. I should be good as new in the next few days or so. I'll be glad to get back to "normal" - but maybe a bit slower paced?

Several exciting announcements coming up...stay tuned!

S-I-M-P-L-I-F-Y

This post hit home this morning. My wife and I had some great conversation yesterday, and I know she'll shout a big AMEN to the post I just mentioned. I was having the same conversation with someone else just the other day - about how we don't live life on the front porch any longer. Technology, with all its positives, has turned our communities into "shellters" [pun intended!] instead of porches.

As Melissa and I continue working on the "clutter" and simplifying our life, here's a sample from the blog post that might help you as well:

S - Slow down
I - Imagine doing less
M - Make time for loved ones
P - Practice patience
L - Learn to gently say no
I - Increase your quiet time
F - Follow your heart
Y - Yield to life, yield to peace, yield to joy

Where do you need to "simplify" your life?

Are We Asking The Right Questions?

We read an article in staff meeting this week that identified vision as one of the key factors for an incredible volunteer base. One question we need to ask our core of volunteers is why they do what they do. How would they respond? Out of guilt? Or obligation? Or would they respond by saying they do what they do because they are on mission with the church - to reach people who don't have a relationship with Jesus?

Here's another interesting application. Read this from Brand Autopsy:

The Wall Street Journal reports the Big Four accounting firms are using "Employee Generated Media" to help gain an edge in the ever-competitive campus recruiting scene. Josee Rose writes:

"To lure candidates steeped in Facebook and YouTube, the Big Four are turning to the Web. Deloitte & Touche asked employees to make short videos about their experiences at the company. The videos were a way 'of taking the aspects of social networking and experimenting on how you can use the new tools of today to move forward into a workplace of the future,' said Cathy Benko, chief talent officer. About 400 videos were made, and the 14 best will be posted on YouTube and used on campuses.[source]

What would it look like if we asked our volunteers to make a video of why they do what they do? What would they say? Or how about a more extreme example - what if every first time guest that walked through our doors made a video about their experience and posted it on YouTube? Would that change how we "do" church? Are we afraid of what they would say?

What other questions should we be asking ourselves?

MySpace For Rent?

More proof that MySpace is dying? Check out this comparison chart via the Swerve Blog:

Tickled Pink!

Here's an uplifting story of high school kids who "get it." I love their spirit of standing up for what is right regardless of what's standing in the way (literally!). A simple brainstorming action and a bit of technology and BAM! these kids solved an age old problem. Kudos to those who refuse to be satisfied with the status quo!

[link via this guy]

I Need To Get Regular

As usual, it's been a busy past week. Thanks to the guys at Creative Animation for sending a phenomenal video crew to Meadow Heights this past weekend. They were working on a special project for us, and we're looking forward to the end results!

Also a special thanks to the many guest bloggers that have been filling in during my absence. Those guys (and gals) were stinkin' awesome!

I'm looking forward to getting back to some regular blogging and some regular family time and of course, SLEEP!

Guest Blogger: Jeremy Leach

Let me just say that it is truly an honor to be a guest blogger on Bucketology this week considering I've never blogged anywhere ever. My name is Jeremy Leach and I'm a pharmacist in my hometown of Fredericktown, but also serve on staff part-time at Meadow Heights Church (Fredericktown). There I take on several responsibilities in the arts department; I'm currently heading up our LiVE Team (essentially our music team comprised of about 40 volunteers), and I also take care of music selection, scripting, auditions, and some video editing as well. I also am a member of the music team where I sing and play piano. Music is something I enjoy very much and if I'm not playing it I'm probably listening to it.

I want to give you guys some info on artists that, in my opinion, have been an oversight in the music industry; each of these albums has had a significant impact on me either musically or spiritually in the last few years, but you may not have heard much of their material on your local stations...at least not any of our local stations...here in Fredericktown.

Kara Williamson
I'm not sure where this girl came from, or where she went, but I managed to come across her cd a few years ago. Someone told me she originated in the Passion albums, then released her own cd thereafter, but I've searched the web for her and even looked to possibly book her for an event last year and got nowhere. Her CD 'Undisguised' has been in my cd player heavily over the past 2 years. Her voice is great and her songs have been used to encourage me on many occasions. There are many vertical worship tunes that would work great in a music set, "O Wounded King" and "More Than Enough". My favorite song on the album is "Dear Performer". For anyone who's ever been driven by fear into 'performing' through your life everyday instead of being real with yourself and with God, listen to this song!!


Starfield
There's a good chance you did hear this group on the radio, but not enough!! Get their cds! There are 2 of them which I purchased not even 2 months ago and I'm hooked. I even added one song of theirs I did hear on the radio, "Filled With Your Glory", to our music set this past weekend and it was very well received! The songwriting on their discs is incredible and the lead vocalist is great. Be sure and listen to a few of my favorites: "Son of God", "Love Break Me" and "Over My Head".

Charity Von
I love unique voices. This chick has one! She is a rocker all the way, but she rocks it kind of old-school. I think of Melissa Etheridge when I play her songs. Her CD was released in 2004, and I still love listening to it! I don't think she's put anything fresh out, but if anyone hears differently let me know. You can tell just in her voice on the recording that she is into the music 110%!! There are also some amazing guitar solos on this album, if you're into that...I usually skip them. The slow, worshipful "In Your Presence" is my favorite, but give a listen to the more energetic "The Narrow" and "Message" and get ready to rock your face off!!

Jimmy Needham
Kind of a one-hit-wonder this past year, his single "Lost at Sea" did make it to radio, but I haven't heard much from this artist since. He's due for a new disc, but the first one has become one of my favorites! He has a great bluesy, acoustic style. If you like the stripped-down, simple, raw sound of an artist, this guy brings it! I would love to see him in concert! My favorite tune on the cd is "For Freedom". I find myself singing this all the time! Also listen to "You Make Me Sing" and "Dearly Loved". A college kid who sings, plays and writes all his material at this quality deserves a listen!!

Anthony Evans
I've never heard a single song of his on the radio. I didn't rank these based on the 'most over-looked', but if I did-this guy takes the cake!! His 2nd album release "Letting Go" has been the most influential album I've ever owned. I can't tell you what timing God had in my very purchase of the album a year and a half ago. There are songs on this album that brought me through the most trying point in my spiritual life, and it was a surprise because I think his first album sucked. Now, I'm a sucker for pop. Lot's of complicated vocal runs I could only dream of mastering and a male vocalist with a range out of this world are showcased on each tune. If any of you share common interests get this album. You will love it!

Well, that's all for now. Thanks to Michael for inviting me to do something I've never done before, it was fun. Also, please respond to this post. I want to hear all about YOUR favorite unknowns too!!

Thanks again!

jeremy

Guest Blogger: Jason McMurry (the Mac Daddy)

Top 5 Most Inspiring Sports Movies

I love movies with heart, purpose, and that share a story of making a difference - you add a sport to it and what a powerful package! To nail it to a “Top 5,” that’s tough, because I have 36 movies on my blog (www.coach-mac.blogspot.com) that have inspired me. But the “Top 5” in my opinion are the following:

5. Glory Road

I love how the coach in this movie thought outside the box, looked past the color of a man’s skin and looked at the heart and raw talent of an athlete as he recruited a history breaking basketball team in the NCAA. This movie is about the importance of “Team” and breaking racial divides.

4. Remember the Titans

A great movie about breaking racial divides brings two races together against their will, through a lot of adversity from within the team and from the community; the team eventually becomes a tight family unit (a Team) that experiences some success with the game of football. This team was able to re-educate and model for their town how different races can come together and appreciate each others difference and become a Team. Not just in the game of football but in the game of life.

3. Miracle

This movie reminds me of the movie “Hoosiers,” but instead it is about hockey not basketball. I love the methods and ideas this coach uses to break down his team, and how he was able to build them back up into an Olympic Gold Team for the USA. This coach stuck with his beliefs even when no one else believed in him, but in the end everyone loved him.

4. Hoosiers

Redemption for a coach who had some regrets from the past and gets an opportunity for a fresh start. I admire his methods and ideas in developing “Team Unity” in the game of basketball. In the beginning he was hated - in the end he was well loved by his team and community.

5. Rocky

This movie is my all time favorite about overcoming all the odds that may be against you. This movie displays a lot of heart, determination, and the will to win. I love the focus and raw authenticity of Rocky. This movie inspires us all to not give up on our God-given dreams, but to pursue it with a vengeance. My favorite Rocky quote from the new movie, "It ain't about how hard you hit, but how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." And you can’t leave out the analogy of “The Eye of the Tiger,” which is that focused, determined look in your eye to win that comes from the depths of your heart.

All these movies have a great message of teamwork, overcoming adversity and the odds to make a difference, sticking to what is right even if you are all alone, that it is never to late to put action to a dream that is in your heart, strong character, and a heart of determination (The Eye of the Tiger). That is why these movies made my “Top Five.”

Significantly Challenged

ChurchRelevance points us to this article by the Barna Research Group. The Barna group asked parents to identify the most significant or challenging issues facing teens today. Here are some of the statistics from their research:

For Teenagers

• 42% listed peer pressure
• 16% performance in school
• 16% substance abuse
• 15% behavioral issues
• 6% values development
• 5% college choices and acceptance
• 5% attitude
• 5% media use
• 3% listed challenges related to their teen’s faith

For Young Children

• 26% listed school performance
• 24% listed peer pressure
• 10% behavioral issues
• 6% attitudes
• 6% media use
• 5% family-related struggles
• 5% health-related struggles
• 5% issues related to maturation
• 3% listed challenges related to their child’s faith

Whether you agree with the validity of these statistics or not, it's important for us to recognize that our kids face some incredible challenges today. What's funny is that I would highly doubt this list (with the exception of the media portion) is much different than 50 years ago.

I wonder what it would look like if we listed the top challenges we face as adults? How would that change the way we relate to one another? What challenges are you facing?

Do You "Verve?"

Professional and amateur musicians alike will enjoy this new creative project from Kyle Yugawa. It's simply titled "Verve,"[link courtesy of this guy] but it's so much more than that. Users are able to select from various instruments such as the acoustic guitar, piano, percussion and more. That's where the fun begins.

As part of the creative expression, you can create, record and edit a composition based on sound, shape and motion. A very unique site, beware...you could spend many hours enjoying your creation!

NOTE: Verve is currently in alpha; some features are not yet enabled

I Have Difficulty (Part 4 of 4)

I have difficulty with perfectionism. It creeps up in some crazy ways sometimes and often without warning. I used to struggle with this continuously, but God has really helped me in this area.

Here are some ways I battled perfectionism:

• Making everything a contest - my project, idea or way had to be the best; I was always competing with something or someone

• Not trusting others to do work I should have handed off to them in the first place
  

• Always thinking that I can do it better and faster then anyone else
  

• Wanting everything to be 100% - even if I sacrificed God, my wife, my family or myself to get it done

Ultimately it comes down to a pride issue. Will I continue to do it my way or God's way? How have you struggled with perfectionism?

Designing Your Life

Here's a great little exercise courtesy of Zen Habits. You can read the entire post here.


Designing Your Life

What would you be doing tomorrow if you retired today?

Let’s say you had a blank day staring at you. You didn’t have to work. You could do anything at all (although money is still a limiting factor). What would your perfect day be like?

These questions are more than just hypothetical questions to ask for fun or idleness. It’s an exercise meant to get you thinking about designing your life.

Here’s the process:

1. What’s important? Ask yourself what is most important to you. Regular Zen Habits readers know that I ask this question in many articles, but that’s because any process should start with this, whether it’s a process of simplifying, of productivity, of frugality, or of becoming happier. What do you love doing? Who do you love spending time with? Make a short list of 4-5 things.

2. What is your passion? What do you love doing the most? Can it be a way you make your living? If you can make a career out of doing something you love, you will love your day. Dare to imagine that this could come true.

3. Design your day. Start with a blank slate, and design your perfect day. Incorporate the short list of 4-5 most important things above, to ensure that you are spending your day doing what’s most important to you. Also include time spent working at your passion (from item #2). Include an ideal routine, including a morning and evening routine, and everything in between. What time would you wake up and go to bed?

4. Figure out how to get there. What changes would you need to make in your life to make that perfect day a reality? Be willing to consider drastic changes if necessary. Come up with a plan to get there. It might be a plan that will take 6 months, a year, two years or 5, but you can get there eventually, if you want it enough. Dare to make it a reality.

5. Start making some changes immediately. Some of the changes can be done right away, especially if the changes are under your direct control. The time you wake up and go to bed, for example, are probably under your control. Your morning and evening routines are another example of things you can probably change immediately. Spending time doing the 4-5 important things on your list might also be an immediate possibility. Notice the things you normally do that aren’t on the list of 4-5 important things — consider eliminating or minimizing the time you spend on the non-important things to make room for the important things.

6. Start making long-term changes now. Longer-term changes might include things like doing your passion for a living, or where you live, or getting out of big commitments that don’t contribute to your happiness or are not on your short list of 4-5 things. But while these kinds of changes might take longer, they can still be done. Start on them today, set them in motion, and dare to believe that you can change these things. Make a plan, and set it in motion.

7. Keep the end in mind. Print out your perfect day, and keep that in mind as you begin to make changes. This is the life you designed, rather than the one you’ve fallen into. You are in control of your life, and you can have that life, if you want it enough.

I Have Difficulty (Part 3)

I have difficulty staying organized. It's not the organizational part that I actually struggle with, but the amount of "stuff" that hangs around all the time. For some reason I am more organized at the office than I am at home, although some would call this a stretch! The home front plays victim to "piles" of stuff that never gets sorted, or as my wife likes to make reference - the "pack rat" in me.

I have read this book which gave me some great ideas on becoming more effective through organization. The trouble is that I don't have enough margin to implement the strategies! I have started reading this book - we'll see what insights come from this one.

My wife has started the "declutter" movement which is now becoming very popular. Many sites like this one and this one have some great thoughts and strategies. I think the most difficult part of getting organized is just getting started. Overcoming the mindset of the seemingly enormous task that lies ahead. Breaking the task into smaller, more manageable pieces seems to help as well, and gives everyone a shot in the arm when those little projects are completed.

Do you struggle with organization? What strategies have you found for overcoming this?

Buckets Are In the House

A crazy kewl weekend...

You can read about it here and here.

Buckets are in!

Guest Blogger: Stephen Emlund

I'm Stephen Emlund, a graphic design student at Truman State University, and past student of Goldie's. I've had a blog since before they were the cool thing to have. It's probably been four years since I started my first blog at Xanga.com. I want to break down the most popular blogging sites out there, to give you an idea where to start if you are new to blogging.

Blogger

Blogger.com is a service by Google, so you know it's got to be good. I was quite impressed with how easy it was to make posts and publish them. They have a nice WYSYWIG (What You See Is What You Get) when it comes to changing the layout and color scheme of the blog. This is a great place to start if you are new to things.

Blogger doesn't have built in statistics (although Google Analytics can be used). Google Analytics is a separate service that allows you to view many statistics about your visitors. Setting your blog up to get these stats takes some time to figure out though. Also, when photos are uploaded, they are automatically resized and linked to a larger version.

Words of Warning: Text formatting and photo uploading problems can occur and it's very difficult to fix them without some HTML knowledge. The best thing to do when this happens is to just start over with a new post. Also, your blog URL will be " username.blogspot.com" It's short and easy to remember - granted IF you choose a short username.

Wordpress

This blogging service is for the advanced user who knows a lot about HTML and PHP. It is totally customizable and you can put it in your own domain (ie: www.yourname.com). Hosting Companies like GoDaddy.com offer a free service to install Wordpress for you. It's a lifesaver if you have never done it before. Statistics of your visitors are also available within your Wordpress account. Wordpress also gives the option of signing up with them and getting a domain such as: username.wordpress.com.

My current blog is using wordpress: http://stemlund.wordpress.com Within two hours I had the website looking identical to my portfolio website: http://www.stephenemlund.com.

Words of Warning: With the free hosting at wordpress, you don't get options to upload photos to your posts and you have to pay $15 to edit the CSS file (A CSS file is the main document for changing the look and feel of your website)

Typepad

I have never used Typepad, but from what I can tell it is very similar to Wordpress, with one downfall. It costs money. I recommend using a free blogging service when you first start out. The cost is $50 a year. Typepad seems to have a lot of features such has WYSYWIG editing. This is perfect for a user without much HTML experience. Typepad is also very customizable and has the same photo uploading features as Blogger. They allow for Video uploading also, which is nice for those users looking such a thing.

LiveJournal

I have also never used LiveJournal. From the looks of it, LiveJournal is similar to Blogger. Blogger doesn't have a networking system or search engine to find others with a "Blogger" site. LiveJournal does have a sense of community and networking with their search tools. You can find other blogs by people with the same interests, career, etc. LiveJournal only costs money if you want to fully customize your blog, just as Wordpress does.

So, there it is. A break-down of the biggest names in Blogging.

I have a reason to love blogging... my girlfriend (and future wife ;) ) found my blog before we even met and we began talking about Truman and such before the school year began. A few months after first seeing each other's blogs we began dating.

My Naked Pastor? YIKES!

I've heard of the "farting preacher" but this one's too fun to pass up!

[from mynakedpastor.com]

The lead pastor, Troy Gramling, at Flamingo Road Church is getting naked! No...not that kind of naked, a new kind of naked. A nakedness that isn’t embarrassing; a nakedness that God would say is cool.

On 9-9 @ 9PM, Troy will be on a 24-hour webcam for five weeks in four locations: house, car, hotel, and office. Every day, all day, we will see his life in a fishbowl - the good, the bad, the great, the ugly.

Why? Well, first, let us tell you why not--it is not too exalt him. Rather, to realize with him, that we are all fish in a bowl. The more transparent (naked) we get, the more God can do amazing things through us. We weren’t created to be people in hiding, concealment, or shame, we were created to be real, naked and unashamed.

Can you say "naked Bryan?"

[link courtesy of these guys]

I Have Difficulty (Part 2)

I have difficulty saying no. I'm definitely getting better at this, but there are still instances when I don't know when to draw the boundaries. It typically happens with something very little, or seemingly an innocent task that goes awry. Trying to please people and overestimating what I can get done in a short amount of time are also the culprits.

So how am I learning to work on this challenge in my life? I try to live by the following "order" of importance:

(1) Does it honor God?

(2) Does it honor my wife and my family?

(3) Does it honor my values and strategic plan for my life?

If I can't say "yes" to all three of those questions, then I'm learning to say no. Having an established set of guidelines makes it so much easier to say no to begin with and ultimately saves a big headache in the long run!

Do you have trouble saying no? What strategies do you use to keep things in balance?

I Have Difficulty (Part 1)

I have difficulty keeping my mouth closed when I get angry. Now granted, I don't get angry very often. I'm typically a "happy-go-lucky" kind of a guy. But when my buttons get pushed or my emotions get fired up, I tend to let my mouth get ahead of my brain. Usually I cool off and go back and apologize for my behavior. I only wish that I would learn to walk away and cool off first!

Here are a few scriptures that I found helpful:

When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you.
Ephesians 4:29 (NCV)

Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Proverbs 4:24 (NIV)

Don't shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think.
Ecclesiastes 5:2a (Msg)

Does anyone else struggle with this? What are some strategies you have used in those situations?

The Inner Soul

There's a new book coming out about the life of Mother Teresa. The book is a series of letters from Mother Teresa to her confidant, Rev. Michael van der Peet. There has already been much discussion around the publishing of this book - you can read an article here and another fascinating one here.

The quotes from the letters suggest that Mother Teresa struggled with her relationship with God. You'll have to read for yourself, but don't we all struggle with our relationship with God? I think of Paul who spent so much time in prison, or beaten, or without food. Didn't Paul struggle with his situation? But yet he never came away denying God. Just maybe God allows only those who are strong enough to be the incredible warriors in situations we could never understand. Mother Teresa was one of those warriors.

There is no doubt that she gave much to God. She also gave much to the world - much more may I remind everyone than any of us has given. As we read these quotes from letters written long ago in situations none of us could possibly understand, remember that God had a plan and that His love is a personal one; to be comprehended by each individual in a way specific to them. [check out this very insightful post for more]

Mother Teresa had the courage to ask for help, to share her inner soul with another who could help carry her burdens. That's what life is all about. And that to me is loving God in a very, very humble way.

The Fumigator

God's timing is crazy!! As a follow up to my last post, check out this post by this guy. As always, he nails it again!!

Projects 'R Us

I'm in the middle of three major projects:

• Technology Project - for our current campus and first launch site
• Branding Project - logo development, website, print media development
• Film Short - for our upcoming campaign

These three projects have been incredibly exciting and awesome to work on, but they have also consumed a great deal of time and energy. My wife can sense those times when I seem to be running on empty after a long day. When I came home the other night she handed me a piece of paper and told me to keep it and read when necessary. Here's what it said:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (Msg)

That sounds like some pretty incredible advice!! Many of you have heard that passage before, but I encourage you to find comfort with the words of Jesus when you find yourself tired at the end of the day, worn out from a stressful situation or looking for that freedom that has eluded you for so long!

Guest Blogger - Melissa Goldsmith

Let me start by saying I'm honored that anyone would invite me to be a guest blogger. It makes it even more special that it is a request from someone I respect and love dearly. I have had a couple of days to think about what I might write. It's pretty easy to whip things up and drop them on your own page. (I'm not even sure more than 2 people read my blog!) It's a little overwhelming writing on someone's page when you know a lot of people might read this. So here goes! I was asked to talk a little bit about how I started blogging and what it means to me.

Let me start by saying, my blog page was accidental. I had the opportunity to spend time with a friend I had not seen in years. When we parted ways she gave me her "blog address". I did know at that time what a blog was because Michael was blogging. Anyway, I checked out her site and was attempting to leave her a message and it asked me to have a login. I filled out all the info and before I really understood what was going on I had started my own blog. I really wasn't sure what I would have to say but right now I'm up to 29 posts and going strong! The evolution of my blog has been very interesting to experience. My blog address is amazingfreedom.blogspot.com, that phrase has been my anthem of sorts for 2007. I started the year really wanting to grow in my relationship with God, my family, and my close friends. In January I sat down and wrote out my Life Plan and in March I started my blog. I went back last night and read several of my posts. I realize I am a very emotional blogger. I'm not sure if that's more a female perspective or it's just my personality. I love writing about how God's growing me as a person. One particular post stood out. I wrote it right after I returned from the Women of Faith Conference. The impactful point of that post was a verse I read during my quiet time. It rocked my way of thinking even though to anyone else it might have been such a small detail they wouldn't even have noticed. The verse said, "They agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included..."(Acts 1:12,13) I have spent my whole life with all this crazy baggage about never measuring up to people's expectations. That verse was like a lightning bolt, a catalyst for change. It gave me a strength in ministry I had never experienced before, it said women were included. My husband will tell you I say what's on my mind. That's true! I'm thankful to have my blog be a positive outlet for who I am. I feel very strongly that God's preparing me for something down the road. I've had opportunity for spiritual growth over the last several months and I have taken it all in no matter how painful or difficult.

I promised God and myself that when I started this blog it wouldn't be a place for me to rant about things that made me unhappy. It would be a place where I would be honest and vulnerable. It would be a place to share information and life. To me it has been a blessing and I realize that my blog was not "an accident". See, God knows my heart and my gifts and where my strength is. He knew that I would be careful before posting anything, unlike my mouth which blurts out things sometimes before I can stop it. I read posts a minimum of 10 times before I post anything. I'm obsessive about writing, it has to be correct. Thankfully that gives me the time I need to get my thoughts in order. Even if I am the only person that reads my blog I realize how okay that is. Going back and reading my posts again showed me where I've been on this journey and what I've learned. I love that there are some really amazing women that are blogging. I get some great insight from their words. Women in ministry like Nancy Beach and Kim Meyer. Women I live life with like Elaine and Ragen. An exciting new discussion blog called "Church Planting Wives" was started by women to help empower women whose husbands are in ministry. It's a whole new world! I'm excited to stand beside my husband and look forward to what God has planned for our lives.

The "Big" Announcement!

Okay...so here it is - the "big" announcement.

Starting tomorrow Bucketology will be hijacked. That's right. For several posts a week I will be having "Guest Bloggers" here at Bucketland. I've not placed any restrictions on the guests. Sometimes I have asked them to talk about specific areas, other times I've let 'em loose. You won't want to miss them!

Who will be first out of the gate? Tune in tomorrow...same Bat Time, same Bat Channel!

'Round and 'Round

It's Monday and I promised an update from last week, so here it is:

Tuesday - meetings...and more meetings...

Wednesday - worked from home part of the morning and then hit it hard the rest of the day including a leadership team meeting and then music practice the rest of the evening.

Thursday - major work day and prep for our a/v consultant. Small video editing project as well as a LARGE visual arts project (props to Melissa and her team for pulling this off!!)

Friday - prep for the weekend followed by the arrival of our consultant (this guy was the bomb!)...oh yeah, I played in the Fredericktown World Softball Championship (man were we spanked!)

Saturday - up at 5:30am to get work done for the weekend followed by spending the entire day with our consultant (did I mention this guy was the bomb?). We visited a potential location for our multi-site campus. Then a music rehearsal followed by our two weekend gatherings. And finally a debrief meeting with our consultant. Arrived home and in bed at midnight.

Sunday - up at 5:30am again and headed to music rehearsal. Three Sunday gatherings and I was totally wiped out. The afternoon was a bit better - some fun time followed by a 30 minute nap! The evening? We had a much needed "family meeting" to establish our mission statement and vision for the future.

Monday - up early to get some work done. Tear down of our visual arts from our youth kickoff event and then a rushed trip to St. Louis to return some gear. Return home for more research to prepare for staff meeting in the morning.

As you can tell, there hasn't been a heck of a lot going on (and if you believe that...I'll come up with some land in Florida for you to purchase)!! Since life is somewhat hectic, I'll have a big announcement tomorrow so stay tuned - you won't want to miss it!!

Still Crazy After All These Years

Yes...I'm still here. It's VERY RARE for me to go more than a few days without a post. It's certainly NOT because I don't have something to say!!

I'll have more details later, but look for something "new" starting Monday!! Until then...have a great weekend!

Beating the Odds

I can't think of a better way to return to the blogging world today...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MELISSA!!

Melissa and I have been married 20 YEARS today!! It's really hard to believe. There were so many "nay-sayers" back in the days. Those folks who told us that life was too hard, the obstacles too great and that our marriage would never last. Guess what? They were wrong! I love to fight for the underdog, but I have no doubt that God had this plan in mind all along. What we have learned and shared over the past 20 years is invaluable. Those experiences have allowed us to impact other lives - the real power of living life.

There were many times we thought life was all about us. That perspective has changed drastically. We love to share our thoughts and challenges with marriage because we've been there. We've lived it and we certainly didn't get it right most of the time. So why not save others the trouble?

I joke a lot of times that the secret to a long-lasting marriage is this, "Yes, dear." But in reality there are no secrets to marriage. It's just plain hard work! It's about loving my wife even when I don't want to. It's about sacrifice and sharing and hurting. It's about laughing and listening and persevering. But most of all, it's about God and what He is teaching us through Him.

If being humble is thinking about the other person first, I pray that our marriage stays humble to the end. I am so thankful that Melissa is in my life. We have a great relationship with great kids and a family that has "beat the odds." After 20 years, I can honestly say that I am more in love with my wife today than I have ever been before, and I am looking forward to sharing the next adventure!

I love you Mel!

Have Coffee, Will Travel

It's 1:30am...

The coffee is wearing off and my eyes are drooping a bit. I have been hard at it for two straight days now trying to put together some organizational structure to the Creative Arts Ministry that I lead. We are off for a staff retreat at 7am this morning and I am still not quite ready.

Pandora is running strong in the background...

I miss my family already - they are visiting my mom for a few days. The timing was perfect however as I have pulled my kitchen table into the living for better access to my work. The house is a mess, I've eaten anything and everything as the past two days have literally vanished.

There may not be any internet access at the place I am heading, so I might be out of the "blogosphere" for a few days. Updates to come!

The Digital Revolution

Mark has some great thoughts on the "digital revolution" and the church. Here are a few key thoughts:

Podcasting is circuit riding at the speed of light.
Blogging is digital discipleship.
Video technology turns screens into postmodern stained glass.
Websites are virtual front doors.
Email is word of mouse.

As new technologies emerge so do new distribution channels for the gospel.

You can read the entire post here.

Surprise #2!

I don't know if word got out that my wife and kids are gone for a few days, but I had another incredible surprise just a few minutes ago:


These are some fresh baked chocolate chip cookies straight from the Minson oven! For those of you who don't know Scott and Tonya, they make some of the best desserts this side of the Mississippi. I was the lucky guinea pig for a new type of recipe they were trying, and I must say that I don't mind playing the part!

Thanks Scott and Tonya for a great conclusion to the day!

A Pleasant Surprise!

I had a nice surprise tonight - a visit from my very good friend John. And not only was it great to see him, but he brought a little present with him:



John and his wife Marsha just returned home after several days in New Orleans. You can read about their adventures and see many marvelous pics here. I was salivating at the thought of some Cafe du Monde coffee and beignets when the knock at my door brought the happy sights of a gift bag! Thanks John!

So I'll continue my work (late into the night) with a delicious cup of chicory coffee!

From Good to Great

My wife and I ate at a nearby "Huddle House" after my gig the other night. If you've ever eaten at a Huddle House, you know that at 11pm it becomes the cultural hub of any community. Even at that late hour, we had one of THE BEST waitresses I have ever had at any restaurant (and I like to eat!). Here's what I learned from my experience there:


Good Customer Service vs. Great Customer Service

GOOD
"Hi. I'll be right with you."

GREAT
"Welcome to Huddle House. I'm so sorry I couldn't take your order right away."

GOOD
Stopping by to ask if you want more to drink.

GREAT
Bringing another glass of your beverage BEFORE you've run out of your current one.

GOOD
Checking to see if you need anything else.

GREAT
Checking to see if you need anything else, checking to see how your food is cooked, apologizing again for the delay in serving the food.

GOOD
Bringing your check to the table.

GREAT
Bringing your check to the table as well as several to go cups "just in case" you wanted to take your drinks with you. And then pouring them in the glass for you.

GOOD
Thanks and come back.

GREAT
Thank you SIR and we hope to see you back at Huddle House again. Have a great night.

Are You Interested?

Tony shares his thoughts on folks who believe in God but just aren't that interested. It reminded me of a friend of mine (actually several) who, in my opinion, shares that philosophy. Three thoughts from Tony's post:

• He's not looking for religion. (And, I don't blame him.)
• Though he doesn't have a relationship with God, his comments suggest he believes there is a God.
• There are times when he even practices the discipline of prayer even though he doesn't have faith that those prayers will be answered.

What's refreshing to me is that Meadow Heights Church is trying to develop relationships with the people described above. It's our mission and focus. We're not trying to discount folks like this, but working desperately to cultivate authentic relationships built on real life practices and not the "religion" that has turned them off in the first place.

It's not our job to "assimilate" them to God - we're simply here to point them in the right direction as we experience the journey with them. We'll do what we can do and then we'll let God take care of the rest.

Who do you know that fits in this category? And what is the next step in your journey together?

Kickin' Cancer to the Curb!

Another win for coffee!!

The data shows that coffee drinkers were 41 percent less likely to have been diagnosed with liver cancer than people who don't drink coffee. For every daily cup of coffee people drank, their odds of having been diagnosed with liver cancer dropped by 23 percent, compared with people who never drink coffee. People who drank a lot of coffee were 55 percent less likely to have been diagnosed with liver cancer than those who didn't drink any coffee.

You can read the entire article here.

30 Days To Live

LifeChurch.tv is launching a new series called "30 Days to Live." It looks very interesting. Here's a snippet from their series blog:

Do you ever wonder what you would do if you were told you only had a few days left to live? The 30 Days to Live message series, as well as this website, were designed to challenge you with that very idea...You’ll discover practical approaches to apply as you begin to live in the moment, live for eternity, leave a legacy, and fight for peace. Also, you can read about how others are planning to live as though they were in their last 30 days.

This looks like it's going to be good!

Searching the Past

I just spent several hours going through old cassette tapes. WOW! Did those things bring back some memories! I heard everything from songs taped off the radio to my senior recital to tapes of several of the school bands I used to teach.

We're in "de-clutter" mode at the house. I learned a lot about decluttering from this guy. We're trying to simplify our house and ultimately our life. I'm finding it hard in stage one to let go of the memories from the past. It's funny how attached we become to things that happened so long ago. I hadn't pulled out those tapes for years, but they instantly brought back memories.

Where has life gone? It seems like yesterday when I was making those crazy cassettes and now I'm wiping off the dust. I guess I'm getting ready to enter a new stage of life but I haven't quite gotten over the old stage. Change is difficult, but I have found over the years that once you settle in to a new routine, the past distances itself from the future.

So the next few weeks will bring much "change" and hopefully I'll be ready for it! Any advice out there?

Thoughts @ 3:40 AM

It's 3:40 in the morning...

I just returned home from the hospital where I had the opportunity to sit with a family as they prepare for the passing of their mother. It was a new experience for me, but one that I will not soon forget.

I have the utmost respect for nurses that help people during the final stages of their life. I talked about this a few weeks ago with a message on "Love Is Kind." During the message, I talked about my wife and her thoughts on being a nurse. I know I am biased, but I cannot think of anyone else I would want to be with me during my final stages. Not just because she's my wife, but because she is a kind-hearted and loving person who deeply cares about people. That's her way of showing God's love - by sitting, listening, and simply letting people know that they are not alone.

Love is kind...but love is also action. We show love by doing, and tonight God gave me the opportunity to share Him in those few precious moments. For that I am grateful, but I am also reminded of the temporary status of my own life. While the party will be rockin' on the other side, there is so much more love to share before it's my time.

I'll close with a question you have probably heard before, but one that deserves an honest response:

"If you walked out into your community today, would people know you follow Jesus not by what you say, but more importantly, by what you do?"