Give It Away, Give It Away, Give It Away Now

As we gear back up from vacations, we're diving head first into "designing" ministry. One of our strategic plans and initiatives for the Fall is systems and processes for each of our ministry areas. All of us at Meadow Heights realize that we cannot lead effectively without systems in place. I like to think of it in terms of leading versus doing. Too many times over the past year I have found myself as a "leadoer" instead of a "leader." It's an easy trap to fall into, especially when things are moving fast and progress is a must.

It's also very difficult to break away from this type of system because everyone gets used to the results and they forget about the process it took to get there. Leaders can train themselves to think this way as well, which is a dangerous place to be. Bryan, our lead pastor, has challenged all of us on staff to evaluate everything we do and place it in two categories - keep and give away (sounds like a show on TLC!). Our challenge is to give away as much ministry as possible, and what we keep needs to be designed to its full potential. Our unique contribution should be towards those things that only we can do. Everything else should be given away.

So now the challenge begins, and I can't wait to give away as much of my job as possible!! Let the designing begin!!

Sunday Funnies

Here's a fun link that you can "rock out" to - Rock Star Name Generator. Just type in your name and you'll be transformed into a true rocker! From here on out, I'll shall be known as the "Hot Rod Styler." For the other "hot rod" out there - if you think that's good...wait until you read yours!

Why Frequency Doesn't Matter

Yeah...I'm still alive. I've got lots to talk about, but since I'm still on vacation for 57 1/2 more hours, I have been trying to stay as unengaged as possible. I read this article that talks about posting frequency. It's pretty interesting, and since I haven't posted in awhile, very appropriate.

BUT...if any of you have questions about the "Wonderful World of Disney," I'd be glad to respond. This was our family's third trip, and we had a blast once again. More details to come!

I Need A Vacation!

If you haven't guessed from the lack of posts, I'm on vacation. Not just any vacation, but a Disney Vacation (insert any standard "oooh" or "aahhh" here). As I explain to those who ask, I love Disney, but we are constantly on the go. By the time you end your vacation, you need a vacation from your vacation. Now Disney has early entry hours and extra magic hours, which means we are up early and out late. Sounds like a typical week at the office!

There has been so much to see and do. I'll post a few pics on my return, but for now a pic of my ticket! By the way, Soarin' is an incredible ride...not to be missed!! I'll tell Mickey hi for everyone!

Music and Tech Team Picnic

This weekend was a blur but the picture you see made up for it. As a matter of fact, there were about 18 different desserts at our Music and Tech Team Picnic!! Thanks to the Minson's for hosting over 90 of us at their house, for the tremendous pulled pork and BBQ chicken salad, and of course for those desserts!! We had a great time together, met for some vision casting, and of course some volleyball!!

Consumed Concert 2006

Sorry for the lack of updates. We had a busy week getting ready for the "Consumed Worship Concert 2006." What a great weekend!! Not only did we feel God's presence with us all weekend, but the music teams were phenomenal and so many people came to worship with us! I really think this is becoming a crowd favorite at Meadow Heights (no offense to our lead Pastor!).

You might be interested to know a little bit more about this event, so I'll start with our gatherings. We have four identical gatherings each weekend (5:30pm Saturday, 8-9:30-11:15am on Sunday) with the exception of the music at our 8am gathering. At 8am we focus more on southern gospel music and hymns, and as you might expect, our average age in attendance is much higher than our other gatherings.

With that in mind, we asked everyone to vote on their Top 10 songs that were performed in the past year. We did provide a list of songs to help guide everyone, and to eliminate the sometimes crazy requests that we receive. Below is a listing of the Top 10 from both our "contemporary" and "celebration" gatherings:

CONTEMPORARY
10 You're Worthy of My Praise (Big Daddy/Barlow Girl version)
9 Much of You
8 Come Thou Fount
7 Your Love Is Deep
6 Who Am I
5 All Things Are Possible
4 Everybody Praise the Lord
3 Indescribable
2 Majesty
1 How Great Is Our God

We also opened with "Praise You With the Dance" and closed with an arrangement of "God Bless the USA" complete with all vocalists, musicians, horns, and video.

CELEBRATION
10 He'd Still Been God
9 Feelin' Fine
8 Just Over in the Glory Land
7 Power In the Blood
6 Because He Lives
5 God Is Good All the Time
4 Saved By Grace
3 Amazing Grace
2 How Great Is Our God
1 Hosanna (What the Lord Has Done In Me)

We opened this gathering with "Great Is the Lord' and closed out with the same arrangement of "God Bless the USA." It was interesting to note that the number 2 and 1 songs are more on the so called "contemporary" side of things, which may lead to the conclusion that people from all generations like music that really speaks to them regardless of the style. If the words communicate a good message and the music becomes the vehicle for that message, then I think most people have no problem with a style that might be a bit out of their "comfort zone."

I was really blessed this past weekend. It was great to see a team of over 30 folks come together and focus on one goal - worshiping God. He was our audience this weekend - we just happened to have over 500 people come along for the ride as well.

Worship With Abandon

It's been a crazy week already. Everyone is out of the office for vacation or student life camp, so the office has been quiet on the staff front, but quite busy with day to day operations. I am enjoying the change of pace. We also had our Life Group BBQ on Sunday, I played golf (for only the second time this year!) on Monday, went to the Cardinal game on Monday night (they were hammered by the Indians), had a birthday on Tuesday, went to dinner Tuesday evening, and of course today, I was back at it bright and early. I have eaten out more in the past few days then I have all month.

Life is anything but a routine. I was challenged by Mark Batterson and his take on life as a routine. Have you been doing something so long that it becomes a routine for you? If we’re not careful our jobs becomes routine, our kids become routine, our marriages become routine. We keep living in the past instead of creating and dreaming our future. This has huge implications for our walk with God as well.

Here's what Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor of National Community Church, suggests when God becomes a routine:

• Try fasting something you've never fasted before.
• Try reading another version of the Bible like The Message or The New Living Translation.
• Try meditating on a passage of Scripture for a week.
• Keep a prayer journal.
• Take a personal retreat.
• Try worshiping God in a new way or a new place.
• Try a prayer experiment where you pray for someone or something for a month.

At Meadow Heights we believe that worship is a lifestyle – an opportunity to discover God on a daily basis. Throughout the “Consumed” series God has reminded so many of us that He longs for our hearts. All we have to do is worship Him.

We are geting ready for the Consumed Concert this weekend, and I challenged our music teams to worship God with abandon. I'll throw out the same challenge here. Even if you have memorized the words to your favorite song, recall them with a fresh perspective and sing out your praises to a living God who loves to hear your voice every single time.

"It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” John 4:23-24 (msg)

Why People Blog

Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church, has some great insights on his blog. I am constantly intrigued about his perspectives on life, church, religion, Jesus, and so much more.

In one of his latest posts, he shares his top 10 reasons why he blogs. I thought I would share those here:

#10 Blogging is a form of digital discipleship. Neo-scrolls.
#9 Blogging is the way I share what is happening in my head and my heart.
#8 Blogging is cathartic. It helps me process what I'm thinking and feeling.
#7 Blogging is the way I leave a trail. My kids and grandkids can read it someday.
#6 Blogging is a sermon supplement. Actually, sermons might be a blogging supplment.
#5 Blogging is a way to carry on a conversation with lots of people at the same time.
#4 Blogging is a form of auto-biography.
#3 Blogging is one way of capturing the things God is revealing to me.
#2 Blogging helps me remember what God doesn't want me to forget.
#1 Blogging is a stewardship issue. It's one way I share what God is teaching me.

For those of you who blog, how many apply to you? Of course many of these are slanted towards a "church" perspective, but you get the idea. I love his final thoughts:

I don't think blogging is for everybody. It has to fit your personality and the rhythm of your life. But I think it is one way of redeeming technology and using it to serve God's purpsoes. It is the printing press of the 21st century.

You can read more about this post and many others here.

The Piggy Principle

We were in the middle of staff meeting yesterday, and one of my colleagues made a great comment about how our teams worked so well together. He was giving them praise for operating on the "we" principle rather than focused on themselves. He went on about how it was "we" this, "we that," etc.

All of this got me thinking about how well we work together at Meadow Heights Church. It really is a team effort. I think we have applied what I'll call the "Piggy Principle." The Piggy Principle is founded on the belief that it is "we, we, we" all the way. We're bringing the team concept home.

5 Things I've Noticed About the Piggy Principle:

(1) While it is a team effort, the leader sets the pace for team. This might be from our Lead Pastor to the staff, or from a ministry leader to their team, but the leader always sets the pace.
(2) Teams will never rise any further than the leader is willing to lead. I've seen many teams that were held back by a weak leader. Ministry rises and falls on the backs of the leader.
(3) Leaders are learners. When we stop breathing in the Bible, stop listening to others wiser than ourselves, and stop reading, we fail to learn. When you stop learning, you'll stop leading effectively.
(4) Leadership is about building relationships. The reason our teams work so well together is that ultimately they have trust for the leaders. This respect has been built on a foundation of relationship. You have to build into your teams and spend time relationally with them.
(5) When change is needed or conflict occurs, the leader has to make a decision. That means the team has to realize that we're all in this together. There are no victims on a healthy team.

None of this operates without the guiding principles of Jesus Himself. All of what we try to do and accomplish at Meadow Heights is based upon God's Word. And of course none of this would be possible without the ultimate leadership of God.

And I Thought I Was Just Weird

I don't know about you, but I do some of my best brainstorming when I'm in the shower. I know that sounds plain weird, but some time alone away from the family in a relaxed environment does something to increase my creative flow.

I was reading an article on "50 Ways to Become a Better Designer" and it mentioned taking a shower to increase the output of your ideas. And I thought I was the only weird one! From what I can understand, your brain normally operates in "Beta" mode while you're awake and working, but when you engage in automated activities such as a shower, your brain drops two levels into the "Theta" stage, or what experts describe as this:

"A state where tasks become so automatic that you can mentally disengage from them. The ideation that can take place during the theta state is often free flow and occurs without censorship or guilt. It is typically a very positive mental state."

So the next time you find yourself in a meeting that is stagnating creatively, you might suggest that it's time to "hit the showers."

Amazing Grace

ESPN has a great feature article on Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy. Tony and his family suffered an unbelievable tragedy last December with the death of their 18-year old son, James. Dungy, an outspoken follower of Jesus, summed it up best when he said this:

"The Lord has a plan. We always think the plans are A, B, C and D, and everything is going to be perfect for us and it may not be that way, but it's still his plan. A lot of tremendous things are going to happen, it just may not be the way you see them."

Tony Dungy is the real deal. He's not afraid to talk about, show it to others, and live it out in his daily life. To read the entire story, click here.

Glory Road

I love movies. The only problem is finding the time to watch them. Sometimes my brain needs a chance to unwind...a perfect opportunity for a bowl of popcorn and a good flick.

My family was getting ready to watch "Glory Road," and being a rabid sports fan, I decided to park my body for a few hours and check it out. While the movie itself had so many cliche moments, I couldn't help but to get caught up in the plot and likeable characters. If you like sports movies with "feel good" moments, then this one's for you. I liken it to a "Remember the Titans" for the basketball crowd.

One quote near the end of the movie stood out to me (I may be paraphrasing slightly...my memory isn't what it used to be!). "No one can take your integrity away from you. It's always inside of you." I love that quote. How we choose to live our daily lives stands as a testament to our integrity. It doesn't guarantee that we won't make mistakes, but as I always told my students during my career as a teacher, "It's not how many mistakes you make, but how you choose to deal with them that matters." Integrity is about owning your mistakes. While I'm still working on that concept, I'm so thankful that God has given us all enough grace...especially when we stray from the "glory road" that He has provided!

From the Depths to the Dump Truck

I didn't have a chance to talk about my "Day from Hell" last week. If someone asked me to describe a day that could only come from the depths below, I'm not sure I could have described a day worse than my experiences last week.

First of all, we decided to have a "staff clean up day," which inherently sounds great, but if you knew how much "stuff" was hanging out in our storage areas (can anybody relate here?), you'd think twice. Needless to say, we cleaned out approximately two dump trucks full of old, used, broken-down, and no-longer-useful stuff from the basement area. TWO DUMP TRUCKS FULL! I have no idea how that much stuff fit into such a small area to begin with, but by the end of the day, we were all worn out, dirt-stained and ready to crash somewhere.

BUT...that's where my fun began.

Have you ever come home to find your wife digging in all areas of the house, and when you ask what she's doing, she let's you know about the "garage sale" you'll be having. Oh yeah...the garage sale. So upon arriving home after the day at church, I was politely asked to help set up tables, bring out miscellaneous items and finally, help price them. WOW! How could I be so lucky to be able to participate in two outstanding events in one day?

I have to admit, when things were all said and done, the end results were awesome. God really spoke to me about the value of organization and most importantly, to be able to get rid of stuff I've been holding on to for years. I'm a pack-rat by nature (can anybody relate HERE?), but during this whole process, I felt great about letting things go. I'm not there yet, but I certainly hope that this is a small "mustard seed" step forward.

So, does anybody know of a good "pack rat" recovery group?

Multi-Site Practicum - Day 2

Another solid day for the Multi-Site Revolution!! As was the case yesterday, we had lots of "good" information, but by far the most important parts of the day were the team building times. By the end of the day we had accomplished a major feat: our multi-site plan ON PAPER!! There is something inherently exciting about actually writing your goals down. It brings unity with all involved, it brings "concreteness" to visions and dreams, and finally it provides direction for the future (or the infamous "monkey on the back").

The staff at CCC were phenomenal and extremely helpful. Afterwards we took a quick tour of their facility fondly known as the "yellow box." This building is basically a huge box with a gymatorium in the middle where they hold worship gatherings. It also boasts a very fine coffee shop and accompanying atmosphere as well as room for children's ministry and their School of Arts (very cool by the way!).

Finally, we had opportunity to peek into their offices, which I must say, was quite a shock to me. All their main support staff are all in one long rectangular room with half on one side of the room and half on the other divided by a receptionist's area. The lead pastor, Dave Ferguson, is right there with everyone else, crammed into a tiny area. Very strange, but also a cool environment. Down the hall was the graphics and media department as well as a conference area. These guys are definitely focused on their mission and not worried about the "internal" factors that often trip others.

At the end, we were asked to talk about one thing we will take with us and one thing we will leave. For most of us, the concensus was that we will take away an unwavering faith that we are on the right path. We may not know all the answers (the practicum plan will help), but we are unified in a vision to reach our community, the parkland, and dare I say even beyond that? I think we'll all leave behind any fears and doubts about the multi-site strategy in general. Most of all we'll take away some incredible team time, a LOT of laughs, and the boldness to move forward. As the movie Braveheart states so well:

Aye, fight and you may die, run, and you'll live... at least for a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!

May we be boldly used by God to spread this Freedom and the liberating message of Jesus to all that will hear. Let us fight with courage and overcome our Enemy as we proclaim that the Kingdom of God is at hand!!

Multi-Site Practicum Day 1

A beautiful day in Chicago!! And of course, we were inside all day. Today was the first day of the multi-site practicum at Community Christian Church in Naperville. We started the day learning about the 7 "moves" to multi-site. It was very interesting information and presented very well, but there wasn't a plethora of new or "light bulb popping" stuff. The information did propel us into some great discussions in our breakout sessions.

I think our team would agree that we are past the "affirmation" stage of multi-site. God has lined up too many things for this idea to be a coincidence. The best parts of the day were the brainstorming/strategy sessions. We laid some great foundational groundwork to some issues that have been "swimming" out there in the minds of many of us. It was neat to see it unfold on paper and for all of us to be on the page (literally!) together. The next step will be to flesh out our top 5 (or six in our case) most important or critical objectives.

One thing is for sure...we have a lot of work to do to get ready for a launch. The next 6-9 months will probably be one of those defining moments in the life of a church when you look back on some monumental decisions. The Gospel no longer functions simply as a mouth to ear transaction but is now focused on an experiential movement from God that encompasses all senses. AND, for the first time in decades (dare I say centuries?), we'll find opportunities to take the Gospel TO the people, but in new and exciting ways.

The business world has long taken biblical principles to help sell their products, but we have had this aversion to using marketing principles to help propel Jesus into the spotlight. I know there will be many people that disagree with me on this issue and it is probably left to a better explanation at a later time, but I don't understand why it has taken the church so long to adopt simple business practices of marketing. If Starbucks can create an "experience" with coffee, then why can't we talk about Jesus in a creative and compelling manner?

Day 2 tomorrow!

Super Heroes!

We had a great weekend honoring our volunteers. Our theme this year centered around "Superheroes" and our new ministry opportunities guide looked like a comic book. Joe did a phenomenal (there! I said it!) job of design work, and we tied it all together with "Super Hero" shirts, red and blue "super hero fabric," and some great looking red "fabrigo" chairs from Ikea!

It was great to hear some stories from our different ministry areas, and a chance to raise the value of serving. It was also a great reminder for me - we have hundreds (and I do mean hundreds!) of volunteers that serve on a weekly basis, most of them behind the scenes. And what I love the most about our volunteers is that we are all on the same page, the same mission, the same vision. I would bet that you won't find many churches who would say that everyone is moving in the same direction in terms of mission and vision. I'm so thankful that we're all on board to serve God through our ministry at MH!

The God Pod

I was reading an article today about digital access and whether or not increased technology would make the world a better place. It seems like the computer has been around forever, but for most of us, the "modern day" computer and especially the internet has really only been around since the late 80's.

I remember my first computer, the Atari 800, came with a "basic" cartridge and a tape drive. Just enough for a 13-year old hacker to write a few programs. And then in my first few years of college, dialing in to the "bulletin boards" to play my favorite text game - that is if the line wasn't busy. Things have certainly changed in the past 15 years!

Did you know that as of 2004 only 12.4 percent of the world had access to a PC? AMD CEO Hector Ruiz recently unveiled the company's "50 x 15" program, which aims to put half of the world online by 2015 - quite an ambitious endeavor. Other companies are working on PIC's (personal internet communicators) that can be sold for as little as $100 to give access to as many people, especially students, as possible.

All of this made me think about the effort we're putting into technology. Do we even put a fraction of that effort into talking about God? What about the Bible? Do we have a goal to put the Bible into half of the world by 2015? Would they call us nuts? I can't help but to remember the words of Jesus when He commanded us to "go and tell." It seems we have chosen to stay and remain silent, hoping people will discover Him on their own.

The article finished with a bold statement that the countries with decent education systems, good infrastructure and free markets were the places that technology has taken off and as a result, it has helped those societies. That sounds pretty elitist now doesn't it? Does that sound familiar?

Remember the Pharisees who had the "infrastructure," the "education" and so much more? They held God so close and would not dare to share Him with anyone outside of their own. And then Jesus came along and said that His yoke was light; His yoke was easy. And most importantly, His yoke was free to everyone.

What happened to embracing that truth? Instead we act more like the Pharisees and hold God so close to us that no one can even catch a glimpse of Him. God is only for us and no one else. Share? Hardly. Control is the key. And besides, it's much safer, right? God in a box, an iPod if you will. We can listen when we want. We can download what we want. We can even put on our headphones so that no one else can hear.

I think it's time for the "music" of God to resonate with full volume. Technology was created not to bottle up the truth, but to help us communicate with the world. It's time to go and tell what others have been keeping to themselves for such a long time. If companies like AMD and Dell can bring technology to the world by 2015, surely we can share the simple truth of Jesus in a compelling way.

Technology may continue to rapidly change in the future, but one thing we can count on is the foundational, never-changing truth of Jesus. Let's get back to the "free market" system of religion - a relationship that is life-changing and free to anyone and everyone.

J is for June

A quick update since I haven't posted for awhile;
*It's June already...I can hardly believe it!!
*A great weekend at Meadow Heights - the essence of Christianity in a message about the always amazing Jesus and another afternoon/evening of great discussion in CLASS
*A quick trip to the city on Monday - lots of food, a bit of shopping, more food, and finally, a stop at the best custard place in this part of Missouri - Lix
*Preparing to help my wife this week - it's the big garage sale weekend!
*Also preparing for Volunteer Celebration this weekend
*Packing for a quick trip to Chicago, leaving this Sunday afternoon

Always much to do, so little time to do it in, and never enough accomplished. On the bright side, I am making progress on my office (after nearly two years!!) and it should start coming together by the week's end if everything arrives. I'll shoot out some pics soon.

I'll put out a challenge as I have with some of my teams over the weekend - take a moment and build into someone this week. It might be a quick conversation, an email, or even a phone call, but find someone that is making a difference and let them know what they're doing is important. Sometimes we forget that a simple affirmation can make all the difference in the world. I think you'll find that you'll be the recipient just as much as the person you're talking with. Until next time!

No Idols Before Me

It's finally over. From the never-ending clips of hopeful auditionees to the last note of the fifth American Idol winner, this season has been one of the best ever. I truly believe this season had some of the best talent ever.

Tonight's episode was one not to be missed. All 12 finalists were back, along with so many guest artists...they just kept coming and coming!! I loved the musical montage segments as well as the individual solos. I had forgotten much about those who had left the show earlier, but it wasn't hard to recognize that they needed to go. There was a HUGE disparity of talent from those who were voted off earlier and the last few finalists. It was very evident tonight.

It was also very evident that Chris Daughtry was by far one of the best vocalists, and as many I have talked to agree, he probably should have won. But that simply wasn't the case. In the end, the bubbly, entertaining, fun-loving and "just-can't-help-but-like-him" Taylor Hicks stole the show. I can't think of a better role model for young and old alike.

So that wraps up another year of Idol. Even though the Bible tells us to have "no other idols," this year's "idols" captured my attention, if even for a short time. Now that this season is over, it's time to get back to the real "idol." Hmmm...I wonder what Simon Cowell would have to say about my "idol?"

Bailing Water

Dip. Slosh. Fill. Lift. Empty.
Dip. Slosh. Fill. Lift. Empty.

You find yourself in a boat in the middle of a lake. The only thing with you is a metal pail. The small hole in the bottom of your boat continues to let water rush in. Not at a pace that will cause your boat to sink...at least not yet.

Dip. Slosh. Fill. Lift. Empty.

Your pail moves in and out of the boat. "I've got to keep going. No time to stop now. If I can only get through this pail of water," you exclaim. Time passes. You're still bailing water.

Dip. Slosh. Fill. Lift. Empty.
Dip. Slosh. Fill. Lift. Empty.

Sometime life feels like you're in a boat bailing water. Your boat might be your job, or your family, or your house, or a relationship, or even a combination of things. But you keep bailing water. You bail water to keep your boat afloat. There's no time to look outside the boat because that might distract you from the task at hand.

Dip. Slosh. Fill. Lift. Empty.

You've got some choices. You can keep bailing water, hoping the leak in your boat will miraculously stop. Or you might possibly decide to give up and let the water consume you; sinking down into the depths of the lake. Or perhaps there is another option.

Peter and several disciples find themselves in a boat and Jesus tells Peter to do something that is against human conditioning. Matthew 14:28-31, "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

Dip. Slosh. Fill. Lift. Empty.

Life can sometimes feel like you're in a boat. There is another way. Jesus tells us that we must get out of the boat and follow Him. But we're too consumed with fear. We have to keep bailing water.

Dip. Slosh. Fill. Lift. Empty.

"You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" The human response is to doubt isn't it? You can only focus on the "tasks" at hand. If you look up you'll be distracted. But Jesus clearly tells us that we must step out of the boat. The only way to shore is by trusting Him and walking on the water.

Dip. Slosh. Fill. Lift. Empty.

But you keep going. Your boat keeps floating. You keep bailing. Life keeps on passing you by. Before long, you're too old to bail the water any longer and your boat begins to sink. But there's another choice. You can still step out of the boat.

Dip. Slosh...

Silence. For the first time, longer than you can remember, the peaceful sound of silence enters your ears. You can smell it. You sense it. You feel it. Faith. John 14:1, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." Sometimes you have to abandon what you know and trust in what you do not know. As God promises us in Jeremiah 29:11, "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

What boat is keeping you captive today? Will you continue to focus on the "tasks" at hand, or look to a new life that God has promised, a future to hope for? If you step out of your boat, Jesus will stretch out his hand. It's time to walk on water. Faith is here. Faith is now. Faith is forever.

Thanks to my buddy Mac for the inspiration for this post.

Twister Part II

Have you ever walked into your house only to discover that Twister Part II had landed directly in the middle of your living room? (by the way, I love the movie Twister!) I don't know how it gets this way, because it certainly isn't me :) but those of you with kids will empathize. You can pick up the house, but in a few short hours it looks like a WWE Brawlfest - stuff exploding everywhere. The kitchen might even be worse, but we won't go there.

Okay. I have to admit it - I do laundry. I actually kind of enjoy doing laundry for some reason, but there are certain things about laundry that puzzle me:

* Why can't I ever find a match to each and every sock?
* Why does every pair of my wife's pants have one leg in and one leg out?
* Why do my daughters have twice as much laundry as everyone else?

...and perhaps the most challenging:

* How in the world do you fold a "nightgown?" I fold and I fold and I fold, but that thing never gets any smaller and it certainly doesn't fold up into a nice and tidy little bundle. Who invented those things anyway? Maybe I'll start "accidentally" misplacing them. But that's another story.

The Coffee Cartel Meets Jesus

I know I have already given my take on the Da Vinci Code book by Dan Brown, but I read an interesting quote today by one of my favorite authors, Brian McLaren. Here's what he has to say about the upcoming movie:

We need to ask ourselves why the vision of Jesus hinted at in Dan Brown's book is more interesting, attractive, and intriguing to these people than the standard vision of Jesus they hear about in church. Why would so many people be disappointed to find that Brown's version of Jesus has been largely discredited as fanciful and inaccurate, leaving only the church's conventional version? Is it possible that, even though Brown's fictional version misleads in many ways, it at least serves to open up the possibility that the church's conventional version of Jesus may not do him justice?

While I don't necessarily agree with McLaren on many points, his thoughts on the general perception of Jesus may be right on target. I would hazard a guess that if you asked most people their thoughts on Jesus, most would talk about a guy who had long hair, wore a nice robe, and was a general all-around pretty swell guy. Conventional wisdom? You bet, if you accept those terms of wisdom.

I was in the Central West End in St. Louis the other night, and it was getting late, so I opted to drive a few blocks to a local and very popular coffee house known as the "Coffee Cartel." It was nearing 11pm, so I expected to find a handful of people at this 24 hour coffee capital. What I found however, was a beehive of activity numbering near 50! So many people sitting around tables conversing, surfing the wi-fi network, studying, or like me, waiting in line for their cup-o-joe.

So there I was, standing in this never-ending line, when a thought occured to me. What if Jesus were to come to the Coffee Cartel? I mean, wouldn't this be the perfect place for Him? In this small consortium of 50 or so were people from all walks of life: the student, the senior couple, the two gay lovers, the husband and wife. I could just imagine Jesus walking from table to table striking up a conversation, interjecting some thoughts, maybe teaching a quick lesson, or perhaps even taking a moment to share a story (insert your favorite parable here).

I don't know if you'll agree or not, but this certainly doesn't sound like a "conventional" picture of Jesus. And quite frankly, I don't think I would follow Him if it were any other way. The Jesus I know is a dangerous, authentic and most importantly, a loving God. If following Jesus means to radically throw out conventional wisdom, then just call me the fool.

I love what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:7, "God's wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don't find it lying around on the surface." (Msg) As we start a new series on the Da Vinci Code this weekend, I pray that many will begin to "scratch" the surface and begin a conversation. The mystery of Jesus is a wonderful journey just waiting to be uncovered. Coffee anyone?

Multi-Site Day 2

Day 2 is a wrap. An excellent day of information, affirmation and confirmation. I heard some very good stuff today that will put me in contact with some folks who can help us with some ideas and brainstorming. The music was much better today as well, but still some Powerpoint issues. The band was solid, and the vocalists were really phenom, especially the last girl that led - she had an awesome voice.

It was also a day of affirmation that we are on the right track with our visions and dreams. And finally it was a day of confirmation that God has given the green light on some upcoming projects. It will not be an easy stretch by any means, but I feel very confident that we have been chosen to carry out God's plans...even if we don't know exactly what that might look like yet. I love what Dave Ferguson had to say today (although he said it a few too many times!!). He said that "God Speaks. We step." Today we took that first step on God's journey for Meadow Heights. I can't help but think of Robert Frost and "The Road Not Taken." The road may not have been traveled yet, but our steps can begin to uncover the path towards the next junction in the road. Remember that life is not just a destination, but a journey to be enjoyed and experienced.

It's time for a bit of dinner, dessert, and maybe some discussion and downtime. Tomorrow our flights back into St. Louis, and I hope this time things are much smoother!

Multi-Site Conference Day 1

The first day of the multi-site conference is in the books. The day began at 2pm with the main session - a little music up front (the band was decent...a good lead singer, but the presentation was not great - especially the PPT operator!), then a panel of leaders in the multi-site field. An attempt at some "late night" humor fell quite short, but overall the main session was enjoyable.

Then on to the breakout sessions. Each of us went to a different session. Mine was on starting a campus in a distant location and was actually very interesting. Not a lot of new info, but a lot of specifics (especially monetary figures) that I had not had opportunity to gather.

So, Day 1 was a good day, but mostly global information. I hope tomorrow brings some additional info and some new insights as to where God is leading us in the very near future. Another update tomorrow!

Oh yeah. We ate dinner at a "smokehouse," and while the atmosphere was pretty cool, the food was just average. After our meal, we were craving a bit of the sweet stuff (that's not quite like me now is it? :), so we walked part of the historic downtown area to a dessert and coffee shop. First of all, historic Charleston is a very cool place to visit. It reminds me a great deal of New Orleans - older architecture, down south hospitality, and of course, great food. I had a latte and piece of "Tollhouse Cookie Pie." I am still reeling in the effects of so much food after many weeks of being "good" on a healthy diet. So much for keeping it safe on this trip!!

For now, a bit of the ole' "shut eye" as we prepare for Day 2 of the Multi-Site Revolution!

A Different Flight Plan

WOW!! What a day of traveling!! We've finally arrived here in South Carolina at the Seacost Multi-Site practicum - BUT...only after much discussion and praying. We arrived at the airport early, or so we thought. As I tried to check in, I was told every so kindly by the attendant that our flight had stopped boarding and we would not be able to go down to the gate. It turns out that they had changed our flight time from 7am to 6am!! Our travel agent had not updated us, and I had not called to double check the flight. Does anyone really confirm times??

We were able to get "standby" passes to a later flight and waited our turn to see if any seats would open up on an already "overbooked" flight. Once everyone had boarded, the attendant informed us that two out of the four of us could go on the flight. After some quick discussion, Bryan and Mac jumped on the flight while Jeremiah and I waited behind. It was the only flight that would get us to our connecting flight in time.

As Jeremiah and I were talking about how we could possibly find another flight, the plane got ready to depart. The stewardess called Jeremiah and I over to the table, and much to my suprise asked if we wanted to "squeeze in" to this flight. As we began to go through the door, I heard the attendant talking to a fellow who had just walked up. He said they finally made it and that his two buddies were right behind him. The attendant said a few words and then I heard her ask him if he was getting on the plane because she was closing the doors. His buddies were not quite to the gate yet, so he said he couldn't board without them. She then told him it was too late and shut the door on him just as our backsides were heading down the ramp. Talk about God intervening and saving the day!!

Not only did we hop on a flight at the last minute, but we arrived to our connecting flight 30 minutes early, and have finally arrived at our conference in plenty of time to register and enjoy the day. I'll update more later as the day progresses!!

Embrace Beauty - Live Life to the Fullest

I heard a podcast today that referenced the passing of pastor Kyle Lake who was tragically killed in an accident less than a year ago. The podcast talked about the last message he was writing and then they read part of it. I didn't just hear those words...I listened. I searched and found his message and thought I would share it. May these words echo in your soul.

"Live. And Live Well. BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply. Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now. On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun.

If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE. Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time.

If you bike, pedal HARD… and if you crash, then crash well.

Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done—a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed. If you must wipe the snot from your 3-year old’s nose, don’t be disgusted if the Kleenex didn’t catch it all… because soon he’ll be wiping his own.

If you’ve recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And Grieve well. At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. If you’re eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke. And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of Life. Because-it-is-most-definitely-a-Gift."

Even Spiders Lose Their Way

Addiction. One word with huge implications.

Addiction. Life out of balance; beyond equilibrium.

Addiction. Control without controls.

I have always been what I have termed a "life-long learner." And therein lies the challenge. How to create the balance, the equilibrium, the control without sacrificing the value. It's amazing how much information is so readily available today. The internet has made gathering this information so easy. The challenge is not in gathering the information, but in discerning what is truth and what is not. Knowledge and discernment really go hand in hand - truth cannot be established without the presence of both.

And thus the challenge. I love learning. I love knowledge. I love the internet. Where else can an information "addict" get a fix worthy of the greatest Kings? I now have DSL in my home and for the past few days, I have not been able to think about much else. I don't want to cast the wrong idea - I use the internet in postive and constructive ways. It's just that once you find a certain piece of information, there are dozens of additional pieces available the moment you discover the first.

Some commonly refer to the internet as the world wide "web." Think about that for a moment. A web can be a networking opportunity that reaches far beyond one's own capacity. Or, a web can be a snare, an entrapment just waiting for its next victim. The internet fits both roles so perfectly. The never-ending quest for all information. With Web 2.0 now debuting, this quest will continue to spread in ways we have yet to imagine.

Can you imagine a world that is always connected? It's here, and it's now. Forget Chaos theory. The internet has provided a means for instantaneous connectivity. Any thing, any time, any where.

I wonder if God is like the internet. Always connected, always knowing. God is just one click away at all times. I like that thought. I mean, so many people are searching for the truth, when it's been right there the whole time. One click away.

So I close this post knowing that there is still information out there that I haven't discovered. And I'm okay with that. Balance. Equilibrium. God. Who needs more information when you already have the Truth?

Maybe Al Gore Was A Genius!

My wife and I finally gave in and are now sporting internet in our home. We've used internet (or at least the old bulletin board system if you remember those days!!) since it's conception, but as we concentrated on our budget the past year or so, internet was quickly one of those "extras" that was sacrificed. We have been without internet in the house for over a year, although both of us have access at work.

At least once every week for the past few months I have had to run out to the office (or in the driveway of a nearby friend with a "hot spot") to download something or to check an important email. Talk about frustrating!! And with our daughter home for the summer and needing to do some research, we finally decided to take Al Gore's invention :) back into our home. Now with DSL readily available, we are speeding our way to a never-ending informational search.

Now we'll see if this helps me keep this blog up to date!!

Time Keeps On Slippin'...

It's funny how life can change in an instant.  You might go to bed one evening and wake up the next in a totally different world.  I've always been told that as you grow older time will go much faster.  It has been proven that time is not a constant but simply a variable that is navigated at an unnoticeable rate, but I can't imagine that time actually "speeds" up as we get older.  I will agree however, that the appearance of time moving faster is certainly true. 

I remember when I was young dreading many summer days simply because they "crept" along.  Do you remember those days?  And then the teenage years where the days seemed long but you had lots of things to do, so you lived in what felt like the "eternal party."  Then along comes marriage, college, a family, a career.  The responsibilities keep piling up and before long you've blinked and you're 30 years old.  I remember my 20's, but I certainly don't "remember" my 20's. 

In just a few short years I'll be approaching the 40 barrier.  Age has never bothered me, so I don't anticipate this next one being an issue either.  But what has me asking some questions is whether or not I've accomplished anything in those 40 years.  I don't think many of us will ever be totally satisfied by what we've done in life, but can we live with the "how" we lived in life?  I guess that's the stage I'm in now.  Sure it matters some "what" I've done, but at this stage of my life's journey it matters much more about the "how" I am living life.  Maybe 40 is a natural time to revisit that question. 

But then again, maybe today is the day to revisit that question.  What am I waiting for?  What are you waiting for?

Saturday (horn hit!) In the Park

For the first time in quite awhile my wife, my youngest daughter and I took some time to visit a local state park called Millstream Gardens. I talked briefly about this park last fall, but we took a new "route" this past Saturday that ended on a scenic overlook called the "Cat's Paw." What a phenomenal view!!

I have attached some pictures of the splendor of nature. It is very similar to Johnson's Shut In's, but much more secluded and pure in my opinion. We'll be back to take some family pictures very soon!It's nice to take a break from reality and experience the glory of God's kingdom. At first my brain resisted - I have too much to do, I don't want to get outside, etc. My wife can be persistent (I love this quality about her - it really pushes me out of my comfort zone!! I love you because...), and before I could process my comment, I had agreed to take this short day trip.

The mile hike seemed longer than it really was thanks to some winding trails, but what a beautiful day!! The trails reminded me of the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee where we spent our vacation a few years ago - more beauty and wonder from nature. I forget all to easily why I love to be outdoors. My body and mind get so trapped in the "real world" that I forget my soul needs a break. Watching the streams of water helped to refresh me and "refill" my soul - just what the doctor (or in my case, the nurse) ordered. Thanks Mrs. G for reminding how much I needed the break!

I'll challenge you to take a break today. Put down whatever you're doing and walk outside. You might even need to run to the nearest exit. Others may wonder what in the world has happened, but you can simply shout back to them that it's time for a "soul break." Peace. Tranquility. Goodness. God always knows just where we can find it. It might be His way of giving us a quick glimpse of His love or what the party might be like after our this life comes to an end. Either way you look at it, it's a great way to bring "Up There, Down Here."

Q Stands for Qumana

I'm trying out this new blog publisher called "Qumana" - this is a sample.  I'll let you know how it goes!

UPDATE:  Qumana seems easy to use.  I downloaded the Beta version and typed this entry in a matter of a few seconds.  I can also manage, edit, or create any entries directly from this wysiwg - very cool!  Let the experiment continue!!

The IT Factor

There's a movie that is schedule to release in less than two months. It's one you've heard talked about around the water cooler. You may even think you have an idea of the content. But what you may not understand is the impact this movie could have on humanity. Strong words? Not nearly as strong as the words in the book the movie is based upon. The book? The DaVinci Code.

I am just about 50 pages from completing this 450 page novel. I must say that I was extremely captivated from the get go. Dan Brown is, if nothing else, a fantastic novelist. He knows how to draw the reader in. As a matter of fact, I could hardly put down the book in the first 250 pages. But then IT happened. The IT I am referring to is the most controversial part of this book. I won't ruin it for those of you who have yet to read this novel or who might want to see the movie, but let me just say that IT will be cause for many discussions in the near future.

The book, as I mentioned before, was so well written in the beginning that I could hardly stand to put it down. The historical thoughts and ideas were eloquently woven inside a most believable plot. I was definitely intrigued by the possibility that some of the historical ideas Mr. Brown was espousing were true. That is, until IT happened. Just over the midway part of the novel the tides turned. No longer was the novel intertwining between a great story line and historical evidence. At that point Mr. Brown no longer cared whether or not he was true to his intentions, but in my opinion, his gluttony of pushing the envelope bacame his main focus.

I would certainly understand if a writer wanted the reader to question their belief systems, historical evidence, etc., but what happened with Mr. Brown is simply quite unexcusable. He left the world of excellent writing to pursue a selfish desire of causing conflict. The first half of the novel he accomplishes both incredibly well - story combined with conflict. During the IT stage he abandons his writing style and focuses solely on establishing conflict. Conflict, in my opinion, which was aimed at selling his book and not to further his writing style.

Let me describe it this way. For those of us who appreciate jazz music, you might possibly equate this book to Kenny G. In his early years, Kenneth Gorelick was really a quite competent and established jazz musician. He was well versed in many styles, including be-bop. At some point in his career however, he was presented with the same scenario as Mr. Brown - abandon his roots and value system in exchange for the almighty dollar. That's exactly what Kenny G did - a new name, a new style, a new music. Both artists gave up on their roots and chose a new pathway.

You might claim that I am being harsh on this book and the writer. I have not been in the position where I had to choose between money and my core values, and quite frankly, I hope to never be in that place. I can only tell you what I have read and how it struck me. You will have to read the book and discover this for yourself. I love a good book. I love the journey you take while reading. I even love conflict when it causes me to question myself and I grow from that experience. The DaVinci Code had all of those wrapped into one but chose to finish in another direction.

I would love to hear thoughts from those of you who have read this book. The movie is due out shortly as well. Maybe God is setting this whole thing up. Maybe God is telling us that we don't do a good job talking about all this stuff; we try to hide things, cover them up, pretend they don't happen. I smile at the thought that God is opening up opportunities for all of us to discuss our faith. Honest, open, authentic communication. Will we seize this opportunity to "crack" the code? Or we continue to veil our lives in the shrouds of history? For now, THIS story remains to be written.

The Old Curiosity Shop Revisited

My wife sent me a cool article this morning about the "why's" of young kids - literally. If you've been around a child for any length of time, you have heard the inevitable "why" questions:

Why do I have to put my toys away?
Why does it smell in here?
Why do you go to work everyday?
Why do people die?

At first glance these questions seem innocent enough. UNTIL you continue to hear them over and over again. My three year old daughter has been going through this stage lately. The curiosity shop of life. Normally I would give the same response that every parent resorts to in these situations - because. But the other day, God reminded me that my daughter (and countless others like her no doubt) are simply asking about things in life that they do not comprehend. Her life experiences at her point in life are so minimal. What you and I take for granted she is just starting to notice, and the wonder and amazement of life are blooming in full color.

You might remember the popular beer commercial a few years ago with the tagline, "Why ask why?" Could this possibly be God's mantra as well? I highly doubt it. God created us to question our existence. Ultimately it's the only way back to Him. Our discoveries in the process are what we call "life." To stop asking why would be to ignore life altogether. Which is "why" I just don't get it when people accept everything they are told for what appears to be truth. They are force-fed information (whether it's politics, work, or gasp, even religion) and choose to accept it without thinking on their own. They stopped asking the why question a long time ago and are content to coast on someone else's intellectual musings.

I started thinking about all the things I wanted my son and daughters to experience in life. I forget that even though I may know about something or have had that experience in life (it may even seem mundane at some point), they are just waiting for the chance to share in those experiences - I just don't afford them the opportunity. Even the simplest of things (say, flying a kite?) can be a new joy to our kids. What I might take for granted they see as (pardon the expression) a whole new world waiting to be discovered.

You may be wondering "why" I am writing about this subject, but maybe the more important question is "why" you stopped asking the question in the first place?

God On Tivo

Once again I find myself caught up in the game of tv. I hope I am finding balance, but part of me understands the inherent nature of man to find solace in mind-numbing activities. I have heard much discussion about the "TiVo" world lately, and quite frankly I am having a hard time overcoming the "early adoption" tendencies of my personality. I have always been on the cutting edge; the first one to grab new technology and test it to its fullest. Which makes me want Tivo and every other gadget RIGHT NOW!!

As my wife and I continue to work on God's plan for our finances, we have made a conscious decision to cut out some of the "fat" in our budget, which means limiting our entertainment dollars. At first I complained mightily about this new restriction in my life, but I have come to realize that this has been one of the best decisions our family has ever made. Not only have we cut down on expenses, but we now have more time for other activities such as playing/working outside, family game night, reading, praying, and much more.

I love the phrase (and ideology) "turn a liability into an asset." In a way, this is exactly what we have done. What seemed a daunting blow to our entertainment pysche has bloomed into something none of us expected. TIME. Time for God, time together, time for others, time for ourselves. Isn't this exactly what Jesus stood for? Building relationships with God and others as a foundation for the human experience? Now I am not claiming total victory over the entertainment monster - I think we all need a little down time to rejuvenate our brain - I still have tons of challenges on a weekly basis. As a matter of fact, this is a horrible time of the year. Who can pass up "The Bachelor: Paris" (did ANYONE like Moana?), the witty humor of "House," the incredible travels of the "Amazing Race," the singing sensations on "American Idol" (which, by the way, I think America has voted correctly the past two weeks!!), the battles on "Survivor" (which is not as good this time around), blood and trauma on both "CSI" and "ER," and of course the newly popular, but VERY fun to watch "Gray's Anatomy." That doesn't even cover the series "24" or the mysterious "Lost."

But then again, I am winning the entertainment battle...right? Do you think God has us on "TiVo?" Maybe he skips through the boring parts, watches some stuff live, and quite possibly rewinds and re-watches our crazy maneuvers throughout the day. Sometimes I think we put God on TiVo but we never get around to watching His episodes. Instead we keep filling up our memory with a bunch of useless junk and never get around to watching the most meaningful episodes, or worse yet, our memory gets full so we dump our drives to fill up with some more useless stuff.

If you recorded God today and watched it back tonight, what would He be saying about YOUR life?

Red Rover, Red Rover, Send A New Leader Right Over

If you're in any kind of leadership position, I'd like to recommend four books that just might change your leadership for the better. These four books by Patrick Lencioni are absolutely PHENOM!! They are written as "fables" or stories, and are very easy and quick reads. But the best part is the application factor. There are so many great principles and ideas in all four of these books. I found myself not only enjoying the read, but rethinking how I "do" leadership. I found out today that he has written a fifth book, and of course I am anxious to read it as well. Don't miss out on this insightful and creative look at leadership!!

Driftwood Or Bust - The "It" Factor

Time has passed so quickly the past few weeks. Just when you think things are under control and life is slowing down, if only for a moment, IT hits. You probably know what I am talking about - the IT factor. Some might add a few consonants in front of that word, but the "it" factor is when anything and everything seems to happen on a given day. That might mean some potentially good things, but for the most part, when "it" strikes, you can expect a day of chaos, unexpected interruptions, and circumstances outside of your control.

That's what seemed to happen to me...not just a day, but an entire week of the "it" factor. Needless to say, that week is over and I am trying to awaken from a dormant cycle to regain some focus and direction. That's not always an easy thing to do - the human temptation is to coast, wander, drift, etc. I've never really fallen into that category before, and I certainly don't want to start now. You probably have known a drifter or two in your life. Here's a typical scenario: up for work (not willingly, and usually late), passionless while at work (struggling to focus, or even staying awake), comes home from work, hits the couch, turns the tv on, and finally, vegetation. This happens day after day until the weekend hits, when suddenly the drifter finds a wild passion that makes absolutely no sense, and lives life with abandon for 48 hours. But then Monday hits, and the drifting captures their heart, and a complacent and visionless life is born. What's worse is when the drifter gets married and sucks the family right into the same game. How many families do you know that eat t.v. dinners while staring at the tellie throughout the evening, only to get up and do it all again the next day?

I think we've all been tempted to be a drifter. It might possibly be grafted into our genes at some minute level. So how do you get from the town of "Driftwood" to a new city of hope and purpose? I think the Life Plan attempted to answer that question:

(1) You have to WANT something more than your own selfish desires. This is really the first step, and ultimately the most difficult.
(2) Determine WHERE you want to go. In other words, develop a mission/plan for your life. Everyone ends up somewhere, but few people end up somewhere on purpose. Intentional living can be a powerful tool.
(3) Identify WHO you are. What are your values? If you could identify some specific characteristics about yourself, what would those be?
(4) Clarify WHAT you want to accomplish with your life. Set realistic and short term goals for yourself. This would be a great thing to do with your family as well.

Now this might seem all nice and tidy (and of course there are four "W's" for you to easily remember!) but the key is to turn these thoughts into action. I have really struggled with this for most of my life. I have a lot of ideas, thoughts, dreams, visions, etc. rolling around in my gray matter, but ultimately if I don't "DO" then they will only sit there and rot and mold in my brain. It reminds me of Mr. H's saying, "Success comes in cans, failures come in cant's..." That's a great motto for life. Or as Jesus might say to you, "all things are possible through me."

There are so many colloquial phrases we could throw in the hat here, but I'm afraid we'd be here all day long. I'll leave those to your imagination. But for today, I'm going to travel some...not towards the dreaded city of "Driftwood," but to a world full of hope and possibilty...I "can" do it!!

Lifesong

I have finally had the opportunity to read again. I really miss it when I don't have the chance to digest a few pages each day. I just finished "Death By Meeting" by Patrick Lencioni. If you ever find yourself leading a meeting (or sitting through countless numbers of them!) I highly recommend this creative and intuitive look at the meeting world. It is a very quick read and extremely applicable and enjoyable.

I've started reading "Through the Painted Desert" by Donald Miller. If you recall my previous post, he is the author of "Blue Like Jazz," a phenomenally written tale of life near Seattle. Funny, witty, and relevant are three great descriptors. The book I'm reading now, however, takes a different look at life. This is one of Miller's first books, and while the writing is incredibly descriptive, it takes awhile to digest it completely. Miller crafts an interesting tale of his journey from Texas to the west coast in such a way that captivates the reader from the get go.

I love his point about how life is like a book. Everyday we draft the pages of our life book. Some of us have many pages in our book, others more, others less. We cannot change the pages we have already written, but we can choose to write our story differently each day. The key thought is this...how many more pages do you have left to write? I find myself thinking about this more and more. The concept of life and what is left to live. Our "Life Plan" study at Meadow Heights has really opened my eyes to the "plan" of my life. Or at least the lack of a plan for my life.

I used to think that planning wasn't necessary. Existentialism was my daily mantra. "Live life to the fullest each day" was my motto. Freedom was my declaration, and planning only stood in the way of that. Maybe that's why God waited 33 years to capture my attention and wake me up from the solstice of my dreams. I wasn't ready to think about planning, let alone God's plan for my life.

But now I am increasingly infatuated with what the future holds. Developing a strategic plan for the goals I have seems to be a logical and necessary step. I have also found that there is power in writing goals on paper - getting those thoughts from my brain to the page holds great value to me. Now the challenge is actually following through with those thoughts. I love how Jesus tells us to "go" and to "do." Don't get me wrong, life is not always about those two words, but for most Christians it's the toughest challenge they face. It's easy to talk about Jesus, but much more difficult to LIVE like Jesus.

So the question to ponder is this...what are you writing in your "life book" today? And what will you write tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. And probably the biggest question is how many life pages do you have left to write? Don't waste another day of mindless drifting, and certainly don't wait for your ink to run dry. Craft a life page today that you will look back to with fondness and want to read over and over again.

As an avid musician for many, many years, I love the lyrics of a recent Casting Crowns tune entitled "Lifesong." It simply states this..."Let my lifesong sing to you." What great imagery!! And if you care to discover it, I hope you'll find my lifesong worthy of listening.

Colorado Pics

The three of us on top of the mountain

Are you breathing?

Fresh Breath of Life

I haven't been skiing since I was a freshman in college at Northeast Missouri State University (Now Truman State). They used to have a ski resort there (which my feeble mind cannot remember the name at this point of my life) where they made artificial snow and had a small lodge and a few slopes. With the errant views of many of my more "liberal" friends, global warming has made this place obsolete today.

Colorado was absolutely beautiful. The mountains were beyond description. Our first day there was sunny, clear and about 40 degrees. A perfect day for skiing. Believe it or not, it was like riding a bike for me. I absolutely loved it!! For me it is a combination of water skiing and roller skating. If you have ever done either one of those before, you're a good candidate for skiing. The first day started slow at first, but soon after I was shooting down the slopes with incredible speed (and sometimes not by my own choice!).

The second day brought colder temps and harrowing winds. They actually closed one of the lifts because it was too windy. By mid-day it was snowing...the wind and snow stung your face like a thousand tiny wasps burying themselves in your cheeks. It almost became unbearable, but most of us were not deterred by the elements. The second day also brought some different and more challenging slopes - including a few marked in the "black" or very difficult. I have to admit that the first time we hit a black slope was by accident - but fortunately we made it through. For you non-skiers out there here were the colors associated with the slopes at our resort:

* Green - easy
* Blue - medium
* Black - difficult
* Double Diamond - you must be an idiot if you try this

While we spent most of the time on the greens, we did manage to tackle quite a few blues and as I mentioned before, an occasional black. There's something very challenging and daring about staring down the face of a mountain with no idea how you might get to the bottom. You try to go very slow - side to side - but at some point you have to make the decision to turn the skis downhill and go for it. WHAT A RUSH!! I don't know how fast one goes on the side of a mountain, but my guess was in the 30-40 mph range, and if you haven't experienced that before - PUT IT ON YOUR LIST OF THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU CHECK OUT OF LIFE.

John Eldridge wrote a book called "Wild at Heart" that challenges men to go through some experience that will exhilarate the soul. This was one of those experiences for me. To be a barbarian, if not for just the moment, was a refreshing and fulfilling moment in my life that will not soon be forgotten. Standing at the top of a mountain over 8000 feet up and peering off the edge into an expanse of nature so glorious...I definitely felt a connection with God at that moment. A reminder that life should be enjoyed and breathed in...not a shallow breath that is fleeting and then gone, but a deep breath that takes so long to exhale you're not sure if you'll make it to the next breath. That's what I felt at the top of that mountain. A fresh breath of life.

The challenge comes not from finding that moment on top of the mountain, but transferring that to the bottom of the mountain in every day life. How does one capture a "fresh breath" in a world consumed by the fast pace and shallow breaths of life? That's the challenge. Not just your challenge or mine, but our challenge. To face the world through new eyes, taking time to breathe slowly, to capture the essence of that breath, and then exhale only to be consumed by the next. Have you checked your breathing lately?

I heard recently that stress is not something that is detrimental; it actually builds you up. But only if you allow time for recovery. It's similar to exercising. Have you ever climbed up a set of stairs only to get to the top panting for the next breath? Through exercise you are able to build your capacity to process more oxygen and ultimately have more energy and recover from your exercise. The mountain was like that for me. I was trapped in a world where I could only run to the top of the stairs once, gasping for my next breath, my oxygen depleted. But I caught a glimpse of what life might be like if I "exercised" my mental being - full of energy - completely recovered. We forget that oftentimes our mind needs some exercise, some freedom, some recovery. Don't get trapped in a "mind game" that breeds routine, uncalculated decisions, or mindless thoughts. IT'S TIME TO EXERCISE YOUR SOUL!!

This might look like a lot of things for you. For me it means reading again. Expanding my mind, exercising it if you will. Reading leads to new ideas, discussions, dreams, and so forth. It may have even lead to these posts today. Everyone needs an outlet to exercise their soul. What does that look like for you?

So I close this post today ready to "breathe" again. Ready to capture what God has put into my mind for this day and maybe the next if I'm lucky. Ready to experience exercise for my soul and to share this journey with my wife, my family, and any others that would play fancy to my ramblings once again. If life is ready, I'm ready to breathe.

Who's Next??

The New Year has jumped in front of me like a bus you weren't expecting. Here's is a short list of some things that have happened in my life since my last post:

* Recovered from the preparation and execution of 4 Christmas Gatherings at Meadow Heights Church during the week prior to Christmas
* Experienced the joys of Christmas - Christmas Eve with my own family, traveled to Eldon for my wife's family on Sunday, then on to Sedalia to spend Christmas with my own mom. Back to Fredericktown the next day.
* Short trip (and I mean short!) to Colorado for two days of skiing with my son and friends. A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE!! We drove over night on a Sunday, went skiing all day Monday, staying in a lodge overnight, went skiing the next day and then packed up and drove overnight back to Missouri - a 16 hour marathon in a van!
* New Year's Party with friends - the clock struck midnight way too soon!
* Recovered at work from the holidays - began planning for the New Year.
* Successfully manuevered the holidays with a college student at home. Took my daughter back to school this week as she prepared for her new semester - with lots of studying!! :)
* Began a new "Life Plan" with my wife that will hopefully engage our minds and tempt us into becoming intentional with our lives.
* Started our Life Group again this past Sunday - it was great to get together with friends again.
* Finally began reading again - Ordering Your Private World by MacDonald. I think I am finally ready for this book...and I need it.

What does the future hold next? Hopefully more posts...but only time will tell!

Life Is Great...and I hope it is for you also!

Two days before Christmas. Where has this year gone? I don't know about you, but 2005 has seemed like a blur. Not that a lot hasn't happened - it has. Maybe so much has happened that I can't really remember it all. Memory is a funny thing. I heard a discussion the other day that the best memory recall is when you don't have many distractions in life. No wonder I can't remember a darn thing!! Remember this - remember that. Don't forget the kids. Don't forget to tell so and so about that. Maybe one of those voice activated recorders will help. Who knows.

So this week we have had four gatherings at Meadow Heights Church. We have had a lot of positive feedback about having our gatherings during the week and spending the weekend with family. And then we have had a few complaints about taking Jesus out of "Christmas Day" etc. I know the debate is starting to dwindle, or at least the last few days the topic has lost momentum. Christmas. Holiday. So much debate about a title instead of a lifestyle. Don't even get me started on the true "birth date" of Jesus. We could go on and on. Who really cares what you call it?

I realized today (I know...it took me long enough) that I too have lost the true meaning of Christmas in my hustle and bustle. It hit me that I wouldn't be living the life I have now without the grace and love of Jesus. Where would I be now without Him? I imagine a life of many accomplishments but no meaning. I imagine a life without many friends, possibly without a family. I imagine a life without the authentic and real relationships that I find myself surrounded by now. And I imagine a life without hope. No hope for today and no hope for tomorrow. I love the phrase a dear friend of mine uses to sign off on his blog each day (and of course he has no shortage of quaint phrases!!) - he says that "life is great...and I hope it is for all of you also." I love that outlook in life. And that is the story I find myself in this Christmas. No matter how busy, no matter how many challenges or struggles, no matter what financial worries may be looming, I can truly say that "life is great" because of my relationship with Jesus. Let's not forget why this life is truly great this Christmas (and yes, Holiday) season.

Life As A Rhino

I just checked my blog for the first time in a while...actually I noticed I have posted since October. YIKES!! Besides Thanksgiving, I don't recall many relational moments with anyone except my family. This leads to my question - "Where have all the people gone?"

Funny isn't it? Sometimes from our own perspective we move around the world. We get so busy, so caught up in the moment that we seem to revolve around life. Think of it this way - are you on the merry-go-round sharing in the journey with everyone else? Or are you sitting and watching everyone else "go 'round?" Or maybe you're too busy to notice anyone at all. That's what life feels like to me sometimes.

I promised myself (and others!) that I would organize my life in such a way that I could actually breathe in the world around me. I have missed so many aromas of life that I'm afraid my sense of smell might fade away. Have you thought about how life would be if you woke up one morning only to find that they were putting you in the ground? Sure they had a lot of nice things to say, but ultimately there wasn't a whole lot that you could remember about what they were saying because you were too busy to have a relationship with others. Does life feel like that for you sometimes?

I have always had a problem looking for the next accomplishment, the next conquest. I actually thought life was supposed to be "conquered" not lived. What kind of mentality is that? One of my mentors has a great saying..."success comes in 'cans', failures come in 'cant's'." That's a great philosophy to live by. But what if you can't find your can?

So to close this post today, I am seriously taking a look at where I've been, but most importantly I need to look at where I am going, and even further yet...who's going with me. One of my favorite authors, Erwin McManus, talks about how rhinos can't see but a few feet in front of them. And a group of rhinos is appropriately named a "crash." It's great to attack life like a rhino - always forging the way for the next adventure. But I think I've been living life as a rhino for too long - I haven't been able to see five feet in front of me, and like the rhino, I may be ready to "crash" at any moment.

I hope that more posts are to come, and possibly more frequently than every month!! Until the next adventure!!

Custom Made Jesus

It's amazing to me that business continues to find new ways to attract consumers to their products. Take for instance the latest iPod craze, and soon to be Video iPod. Wherever you turn their are iPod's. Podcasting has taken off as one of the quickest and most effective ways to get audio to people. You can sign up for "podcasts" and download them at will for almost anything that is broadcast. Churches are beginning to do this as well. Why don't churches use these strategies more often?

The business world has figured out that to reach their "target audience" that they must customize their product to meet the needs of the consumer. I heard a great session by Leonard Sweet that describes this in detail. He deconstructed a simple Starbucks Coffee Cup and talked about branding and the church. As he described, business is simply taking age old biblical principles and applying them in a practical way. Something, he stresses, that the church has forgotten about but needs to revisit. Why let business dominate a strategy that Christ used centuries ago??

I had some fun recently with product "customization." You can visit my new "shoe" design here. You can now personalize everything from shoes, other clothing items, your car, your music...you name it and you can personalize it. This seems so ironic to me. The very thing that business uses is the same concept that the "church" (BIG "C") has put in a box for so long. God is seen as a "rigid" force that you shouldn't mess with. Do as your told and follow the rules. We are one. How fresh would it be to talk about Jesus as someone who you can "personalize?" Someone who can relate to you no matter where you are or where you have been. This is the Jesus that I know. This does not diminish the "Truth," but paints it in a new way that anyone can relate to on their own level. In essence this is what Jesus was all about - meeting people (customization) wherever they needed to be met.

So my question is this - are you looking for a mass-produced, run-of-the-mill Jesus, or are you looking for a fresh, customized Jesus that will meet you wherever you are?

An "old" friend

Mill Stream Gardens

The "Twisted" Tree

Two Parks in Two Days

I had the opportunity to visit two state parks that I had never been to before. My family and I along with my mother in law, visited Mill Stream Gardens on Sunday afternoon. It was a very small park, but very beautiful as well. There is a small area called the "shut ins" and a large tree that was "turned" by a man over many, many years. An enjoyable afternoon with the family on a gorgeous day.

On Monday (my new day off!!) I spent the day with an old friend at Sam A. Baker state park. Again, a state park that I had not set foot in before. This park was much bigger than I anticipated. It was very beautiful with two campgrounds, a park/picnic area, cabins, visitor's center, and a small restaurant that opens during the weekend. I loved the area, and certainly had an itch to go to the nearest camper dealer to see what I could find. But alas, the dollars say not at this time. Soon however!! I had a great day talking, hanging out, eating a great grilled hamburger, and thinking about days gone by. Thanks for a great day John!!

Now it is back to work this week, with much on the horizon. We had our first full time Saturday gathering this past weekend, and the vibe was very good. Over 550 in attendance this weekend, the second highest ever for a non-holiday. This could be the catalyst that sparks the next wave of growth. I'm excited to see where things are headed from here. Only time (and God!!) will tell.

Catalyst

The Catalyst Conference 2005 is now officially over. I had the opportunity to hear some great speakers, but mostly it was the same stuff I had heard before from them or from their books. It was nice to hear Donald Miller for a longer period of time. He is definitely a challenging speaker, with a great sense of dry wit and humor. Bill Hybels was also a highlight for the day.

By far the greatest highlight was the band. This band can ROCK!! Most of the vocalists and musicians are from North Point Church in Atlanta. The drummer was phenom as well as many of their vocalists. A great improvement from last year.

I enjoyed the conference again this year, but I enjoyed hanging out with the Emerging Leader group much more than the conference. It was great to watch them as they experienced this environment for the first time - it is always rewarding to watch others and share in their thoughts. We had some great conversations, and who can forget that wonderful van ride (thanks to Craig Mills here!).

Now I am back at work for the week, busily preparing for the permanent addition of our Saturday gathering starting this weekend. It is a busy week ahead!!

I am off for home and to see Kayla one last time before she heads back to school tomorrow. It seems like her visit home went too quickly, or maybe I am just getting much older. Probably a combination of both.

So for now, I bid you farewell.

Atlanta, Day One

Well, it's our first day in Atlanta. We rolled in about 3:30am today (losing an hour to the Eastern time zone) and with little sleep managed to climb out of bed at about 9:30am. Then it was off to the Catalyst Labs. There were a total of three sessions, each with a different speaker. I must say that all three sessions were decent, but by far the best speaker of the day was Len Sweet. He was very articulate - VERY intellectual, and very challenging. He analyzed the marketing (image) strategy of Starbuck's Coffee and made a great comparison that business is using strategies and ideas that are straight from the Bible. As a church, however, we are failing to use the very things that make companies like Starbucks extremely successful. It was very interesting.

I took two things away from his conversation. Number one, even though this is a leadership conference, Christ called us to "follow Him" and not lead. In order to be great leaders we first have to be great followers. Or in Sweet's words, it's not about discipleship, but followership. Secondly, we must open our eyes and look for "God" moments, or the study of semiotics (spellling?). This is basically looking for the "signs" that God is present. And not just looking for them but then knowing what to do once you find them. That, Sweet states, is the same concept that Starbucks has used successfully for years. Knowing the signs of their business, identifying them, and then knowing what to do with them. A great discussion for the short hour period.

There were two other speakers, but none that were as captivating as Sweet. I will add however, that the evening session featured one of my favorite authors, Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz) who was as witty as his writings. If you haven't checked out his books, I encourage you to do so. You won't be disappointed.

Tomorrow begins the main sessions in the big arena. Many, many talented authors and speakers to appear tomorrow, so I am off to bed to recoup from my day. More updates later!!