American Idol Worshiper!

If you've been following this season of American Idol, you may have seen a Jack Osbourne look-a-like on the show. This cat is none other than Chris Sligh, the worship pastor from Seacoast Church. This guy totally rocked and was VERY funny as well. Good luck to Chris in Hollywood!

What's the Big Idea?

The gang at Community Christian have published their first collaborative book entitled, "The Big Idea." These guys are working hard to impact the Kingdom through their multi-site vision. Our staff had an opportunity to spend some time with these guys a few months ago and they are doing a fantastic job!

You can visit their new website: The Big Idea Online

I haven't had a chance to read their book yet (I'd love to review it for you guys!), but I know it will be packed full of information you won't want to miss!

You can also check out their blogs:

Dave Ferguson - Velocity
Jon Ferguson - Viscosity
Eric Bramlett - Eric's Eddyfications

Serving God Knows What

God. Spouse. Family. Work.

God gave us a plan to a fruitful and fulfilled life. Are the words above the order you find yourself serving? If you're like me, it's easy to turn everything around - the beginning becomes the end and the end becomes the beginning. After a long period like that it feels like everything is the ending! That's because God didn't create us to live our lives in an unhealthy way. I constantly have to remind myself of that because by nature I'm a "workaholic."

I love this post by Perry Noble. He talks about honoring his wife in a very Godly way. It's not like we haven't heard it before, but Perry is actually living it. God, spouse, family, work.

Where are your priorities?

Just Like Grandma Used to Say

A great quote from Len Sweet courtesy of Mark Batterson:

"Ask the grandparents in your church: how many of you would lay down your life for your grandchildren? Every grandparent will raise their hand. Then ask them: how many of you would lay down your musical preferences for your grandchildren?"

On the Road Again

I just got back from a weekend trip to Nashville. Bryan, Greg and I visited LifeChurch.tv's Hendersonville campus. Props go out to Andrew, Brandon and the rest of the gang for hosting us and answering a LOT of questions. The Hendersonville campus has grown from approximately 50 to 200 in the past six months. The campus is located in a tiny strip mall that has been retrofitted into a cool new space. These guys definitely know how to make a small space work!

We've been visiting several churches that do "multi-site" to find out what principles work best. We're also really working hard on systems and processes to help us get organized. Lots of questions have been answered as well as some new possibilities - I can't wait to see what direction God sends us in next!

On a side note...if you ever have opportunity to stop and eat at Patti's Settlement DO IT!! The food is incredible - from the bread to the desserts, you won't be disappointed!!

She's Off To See the Wizard...I mean, the Mickey

Well, it's official. My oldest daughter, Kayla, is now the newest member of the Disney World College Internship program. After a year and a half of a challenging pharmacy school, she has accepted an offer at Disney. We have been praying over this decision for the past two weeks, but things are finalized and she is preparing to leave. She has to arrive by Monday, February 5th, where she will check in and find out her apartment (which they provide) and where she will work, etc. She will also take classes while she is there (which they provide) and will be able to transfer them wherever she wants.

She qualified for the extended internship which runs from now until August. It will be a long time before we see her again, but I pray she takes this time to reflect on life, prepare for the future, and develop some new networking opportunities. The world is wide open if she'll only take time to breathe it in.

I booked a flight tonight (finally). I don't know if you have ever tried to book a one way flight, but the prices change DAILY. Sometimes more than once a day. I had been "eye-ing" a non-stop flight with American Airlines, but the price had hovered at $250 for the past two days. Tonight however, it sunk to a mere $77!! Talk about a God send...we are very carefully watching our finances and this was just what God ordered!

So here's to Disney and Orlando - let's see what the future holds!

Never Too Late to Say Hello

Dave Ferguson points us to Donald Crowdis (not David Crowder) - a 93 year old blogger who still has a lot of life in him. I found some solace in his latest post about not being ready to go. I thought you might find some of his comments interesting as well:

I've floated on the remark "Been there, done that" for some time now, but the notion that the moment is approaching when I can no longer say this bothers me. The truth is, I don't want to go.

There are many reasons. For too long I have behaved as if I could postpone going indefinitely, and thus have so many things that I must do first. I don't want my successors to find out how much I could have done that isn't done, not by a long shot. There are numerous notes and letters I must write. There are places I've wanted to travel, but never had the chance. Actually, each of you can, if you think yourself into my age, fill out the list. At least you can try to understand why I say that I hate to go.

I have been toying with the idea lately of making a list of 100 things I want to do before I die. I guess there's something a bit morbid about actually writing the list down, but I have read several books or blogs lately (coincidental?) that have spurred my thinking. Has anyone ever made a list like that? And what happens if you actually accomplish all of those things?

There is definitely power in writing things down, especially goals. Putting pen to paper from thoughts in the mind has a very sobering effect - you either accomplish them or you don't. A lot of people I know never write their goals down. I think they really fear failure. Once you write it down you've committed - especially if you share it with someone else. Most people never open themselves up to that level of accountability.

I heard Mark Batterson say in a podcast recently that it finally hit him that he would rather live with his failures than with the "what if's" that never came to be. Some wise words.

I thought it fitting to close with a quote from Theodore Roosevelt. Enjoy his words.

It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

From a speech given in Paris at the Sorbonne in 1910

Leaders as Learners

Meadow Heights has always followed a simple mantra for all staff members: Leaders are learners. We learn in many ways, but one of the most important ways is through reading. I am always interested in what other leaders are reading, so with this in mind, I wanted to list the last 10 books I have read:

• The E-Myth Revisted by Michael Gerber - a great book with some practical insights for church leaders. Written as a business book, the discussion of systems and processes are key to any developing organization.

• Confessions of A Pastor by Craig Groeschel - a very enjoyable read with some great insights into the life of a pastor. Thanks to LifeChurch.tv (and LifeChurchOpen) for sending me a free book.

• In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson - Mark's first "official" book is an easy and fascinating read. I promised Mark a review after he sent me his book, so I'll post a review soon.

• Black by Ted Dekker - the only fiction book on the list. First book in a trilogy, Ted is a wonderful writer with an intriguing style of writing.

• The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren - I am a HUGE McLaren fan, but I must say I was quite disappointed in this book. There were a few great moments in his writing, but not nearly the mental wrestling readers had with the "New Kind of Christian" books.

• Simple Church by Rainer and Geiger - one of those books that reinforces your views of how church can be organized. A fresh perspective on how "simple" church can really be.

• The Multi-Site Church Revolution by Surratt, Ligon and Bird - a must read for any church thinking about going multi-site. Great stories and statistics throughout.

• Sheet Music by Kevin Leman - if you're married, this book is a must. What can I say? It's full of, how should I say this..."revealing" information?

• Communicating For A Change by Andy Stanley - another "must" read for any communicator. Andy's thoughts on the main idea are wonderful suggestions. An easy read chocked full of great information.

• The Radical Reformission by Mark Driscoll - an interesting read, but not nearly as good as his first book, "Confessions of a Reformission Rev." Mark has his own unique style and is VERY, very funny.
  

What books have you read lately? What would you list as "must reads?" Feel free to leave a comment for some future reading suggestions!

We Delight

Here are some great thoughts from Seth Godin that the church could really use:

Our mind is prepared for what we are about to receive. If it's a sales pitch, we're ready to ignore it. If it's on a familiar blog, we're ready for it to be familiar.

Real memories are created by surprises.
Real change is created by unexpected juxtapositions.

If God were to evaluate your church today, what would He say? Would your "sales pitch" be one He would ignore? I love this fresh perspective on how to view church - REAL memories are created by surprises. Isn't that so true? Think about it...when was the last time your were "surprised" at church? Is it "business as usual" or is God showing up in fresh and unexpected ways?

I am so thankful that God has challenged us to be a different type of church. Meadow Heights focuses on honoring God through the creative arts, balanced teaching, and sometimes thinking way outside the box. Let's face it - society lives outside the box. Why can't we use the same philosophy at church?

I pray that this week God will show up in your life. He might possibly show up as a surprise, in a little way, or with a great big bang. Whatever it is, never lose the delight (or take for granted) when God reveals Himself to you.

"Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart's desires."

Psalm 37:4 (NLT)

Pioneers vs. Adopters

Seacoast Church has added an "internet campus." You can check out their new site here. They are the second church to try this experiment (LifeChurch.tv was the first) and I will be interested to see how this one turns out.

Pioneers don't always get credit for an idea until the next wave of adopters implement it. A lot of products we're all familiar with have been around for a long time. Someone pioneered the idea, but adopters made it famous. I think God wants us all to be pioneers but we're too content to be adopters because it's a whole lot easier.

You have probably heard the old adage "it's better to try and fail then to have never tried at all." Is that true of your life? If not, what's holding you back? Fear? Pride? I am really working through some personal challenges God is asking me to tackle. It's never easy to look back on your life and find the patterns of contentment (which is not always bad) when God is asking you to do so much more. Contentment is a Godly character, but it is a source of self when contentment is derived from laziness.

What are you content with that God is asking you to take a risk and be a pioneer? But maybe the bigger question is, what are you going to do about it?

Michael Brecker: 1949-2007

I just heard that one of my musical idols and a huge influence on my playing passed away a few days ago. Michael Brecker, who set the bar in so many areas, will be missed by saxophonists and jazzers around the world. I have followed Brecker since my teenage years, and his playing influenced almost every modern day saxophonist. His style developed from the funky sounds of the Brecker Brothers and Steps Ahead to the straight ahead playing on his early solo albums to the "Breckerish" sound in recent years that was so evident to any listener.

Michael Brecker was only 57, but battled MDS and leukemia for the past two and half years. More information on how you can help others battle this deadly disease is available on his website which is still active today.

For all of us who were influenced by Brecker's music...I bid him a very sad but fond farewell.

It's All Good

It's always refreshing to be around someone whose heart is on fire for God. That was my experience today with a young man named "Sam." Sam's heart is on fire for God. He's bold but not brazen, passionate but not over-dramatic, dangerous but not reckless. In short, Sam is open to God's direction and not afraid to do whatever He asks.

I love what Sam said during our few minutes together:

If I attempt something for God and end up falling off a cliff, it will be good. If I attempt something and stay on the cliff, it will still be good.

Sam is not afraid to fail for God. I've heard it said that there are no failures, only experiments that didn't work. I hope God sees all of us like that.

I'll close with a quote from Erwin McManus (thanks for sharing this Bryan!) that sums up people just like Sam - may we all take a small piece of courage from the warriors around us!

“Let’s go and pick a fight. Perhaps God will help!” Jonathan

(as paraphrased by Erwin McManus)

Monday Chuckle - Kids Say the Funniest Things

An Incredible Weekend

It was an incredibly busy weekend, but I had a blast! Our lead pastor, Bryan Mills was put on voice rest by his voice specialist last Thursday until he could see his regular doctor this week. With that being said (no pun intended!), Bryan asked me to step up and teach the message this weekend. First of all, I appreciate the opportunity, and second, God always speaks to me in a powerful way on the weekends I teach, and this weekend was no exception.

We are in a four part series called "Mind Your Own Business 2," and today I talked about how to tackle debt. So many people in this world are burdened and shackled by debt that has accumulated over time. They worry about their finances and many feel lost and helpless. I feel very passionate about this subject because I too have been in that same position, but God has given me and my family a new vision for our finances and I AM PUMPED! It is so freeing to finally have a "plan" for our money - telling it where to go instead of wondering where it went!

We have a long way to go, but there is LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL! I pray that those who are finding themselves slaves to the lender will be able to break free and find God's vision for their finances. Can you imagine an entire church totally debt free, ready and willing to say YES to anything and everything God asks them to do? IT CAN HAPPEN!

I encourage you to check out our new series and the resources on our website at www.meadowheights.com. So many churches shy away from talking about money, but thankfully WE'RE DETERMINED to help people find God's vision for their finances. We've experienced incredible growth the past two weeks because people really want to know what the Bible says about money. It's time for the church to take a stand and help people experience the freedom God designed for each and every one of us.

We're learning to say "NO" for a little while, so we can say "YES" to God for the REST OF OUR LIVES!!

Time for a Change

Well, it's official. Tony Morgan is moving. He's accepted a position on staff at New Spring Church with one of my favorite bloggers, Perry Noble. Here's a list of sites that you can find out more information:

• Tony Morgan's blog
• Perry Noble's blog
• From the heart and desk of Mark Beeson (the lead pastor at Granger Community Church)
• Tim Steven's blog
• Gary Lamb's blog

Tony has been on staff at Granger Community Church for the past eight years, but feels like God is calling him into new territory. His title is yet to be determined at New Spring, but I know he will do a great job. Good luck to Tony during this transition!

Calling All Prayer Warriors

I'm writing to ask for prayer for a very special friend of mine. He has received some news that is very discouraging and would cause most anyone to question God's plan for their lives. God is ultimately in control, but that doesn't make the situation any easier. Please pray for strength, encouragement and a renewed faith during these difficult times.

Moving On Up

A big announcement is coming tomorrow regarding Tony Morgan's blog. He's set to unveil this big "secret" tomorrow morning. Stay tuned.

Tony did reveal today that long time blogger Terry Storch has left Fellowship Church in Dallas for the cooler climates of Oklahoma, specifically to work for LifeChurch.tv. Terry has a new book coming out soon called "The Blogging Church." As I heard someone say recently, Terry is the only person who could write a book about blogging but not have an active blog himself. Maybe his move to LifeChurch will allow him an opportunity to start the blog again? Congrats to Terry - for the move and the book!

Apple's At It Again!

Apple rocked the world again today as Steve Jobs unveiled the new "iPhone" during the keynote at MacWorld 2007 today. This phone looks incredible, and Apple's stock rose an amazing 7% after their announcement today. The phone will be carried by Cingular, but won't be available until June. I can't wait!

To read more about the iPhone, click here.

A Little Fired Up!

Perry Noble is at it again! This post is sure to draw some comments - check it out here.

Swerve

Everyone's talking about it, so I thought I'd throw my plug in as well.

Craig Groeschel, pastor of LifeChurch.tv, and Bobby Gruenewald have officially started a blog to share their thoughts and ideas on God, the Church and life. Their blog, called swerve, has some great insights as well as links to other blogs and several churches. My favorite part? Their list of what they are currently reading. I can't wait to see how this blog develops!

2007 Missouri Inaugural Ball

I had an amazing opportunity to perform at the 2007 Missouri Inaugural Ball in Jefferson City last night. I played with a big band through the course of the evening as all the representatives and senators were "announced" along with Governor Blunt. An interesting evening to say the least.

The crowd was an eclectic mix of young and old alike, but all of them enjoyed dancing all night long! I was accompanied by my wife who also enjoyed the evening. We stayed overnight at Candlewood Suites and I must say, I am very impressed by this chain of hotels. The suites included hard wood floors upon entry, a full kitchen including stove, refrigerator and dishwasher, a spacious living area with a lounge chair, and a nice HOT shower! I would highly recommend this place!

Two interesting side notes:

* The rotunda inside of the capitol has various sayings engraved into the stone. The one that caught my eye? The scripture from the message last weekend..."Where there is no vision, the people perish..."

* My wife had to go pick up a few items, and when she returned to the capitol building, there were absolutely NO parking spaces left. Security was tight, but after a quick phone call, she was allowed to pull up ON the sidewalk, across a small patch of grass, and finally parked near the steps right next to some columns. Might I say that it could possibly have been the BEST parking spot in Jeff City? And certainly CLOSE to the Capitol!

A Conversation of a Lifetime

I met a very interesting fellow tonight. We engaged in some initial conversation, but then I really seemed to connect with him and we chatted for about 15 minutes or so. I found out that he is the uncle of a good friend of my wife and mine, and a great uncle of two of my former students.

What really struck me about our conversation was the passion with which he spoke of the past. You see, this man is living what is probably the last part of his life in a skilled nursing facility. He used to live on a farm, and when I asked him about it, his eyes lit up with fond remembrance of days past. As he described his love of the farm, I sensed a longing to return there, and at one point he stopped momentarily with emotion welling up inside of him. You could absolutely feel in your soul how much he missed it there.

He went on to talk about his military career, his schooling, his parents and his wife of over forty years that had long since passed from this world. While he enjoyed staying in his new home, it would never be the same as the green pastures he loved his entire life. He even mentioned how he felt he was nearing the "end of the road." Loneliness was his constant companion.

None of us really know how we will spend the end of our days. Will it be in our own home? With loved ones? Alone? While we can't predict the future, we can enjoy and experience what God has given us today.

I love how Michael Gerber, author "The E-Myth" and "The E-Myth Revisited" describes how great people live their lives:

"Great people have a vision of their lives that they practice emulating each and every day. They go to work on their lives, not just in their lives. Their lives are spent living out the vision they have of their future, in the present. They compare what they've done with what they intended to do. And where there's a disparity between the two, they don't wait very long to make up the difference."

Intentional living with intentional purpose. Not living by accident, but with a vision. God asks us to create our lives actively with Him in mind. A good friend of mine says to "choose your regrets wisely." I might add that not choosing at all might be the biggest regret of all.

I'll close with a question I've been asking myself a lot, and I hope you'll let this resonate with you as well. What is God's vision for my life, and how am I planning to get there?

Fix You For Every Generation

I'm a huge Coldplay fan, and probably my favorite song of theirs is "Fix You." We performed this song at Meadow Heights awhile back, and it still ranks as one of my favorite moments. I love the lyrics to the song and the spiritual overtones it suggests.

What I didn't think about however, is the impact the song may have on different generations. Creativegeneralist.com has a great video of this song, performed by Fred Mittle and the Young at Heart Chorus. Each member of the chorus is between the ages of 73 and 92, and they perform covers of the Rolling Stones, the Clash, and many others.

You can also check out the video here.

You Say It's Your Birthday...

I just returned home from an awesome night out with my wife Melissa. Today's her birthday and she's *cough, cough* years old today. We don't often get an opportunity to get away alone except on an occasional date night (even those seem a bit sparse lately!), so tonight was a great chance to spend some quality time alone together. We had dinner at 12 West (the pizza was PHENOM!) and then spent some time wandering around Penney's, Value City, and of course Wal Mart!

I am always invigorated by the time I spend with my wife. We always have some great conversations, and she is so insightful about life and especially me. After nearly 20 years of marriage, she can read me like a book! We could truly spend hours talking with one another - sharing our thoughts, goals and dreams. Tonight we shared our plans for the year 2007. We challenged each other to get intentional and promised to hold each other accountable. I love that about my wife - she's not afraid to challenge me when I need it!

I also shared the story of the "fat man" and the "skinny man." Now this may seem odd, but those two are one and the same. I'll try and post about this at a later time, but the idea comes from the book "E-Myth Revisited" which I have been reading lately. Definitely a book every business and ministry person should read in 2007!!

I'm excited about what the future holds for our family. We'll continue to develop our relationship with God first, our marriage second, and finally, our kids. We don't always get it right, but thankfully God's grace will always take care of the rest.

Stay tuned, I have a feeling 2007 is gonna be a whopper!

Where's Bucketology?

Outreach Magazine has recently listed the "Top 20 Web Sites for Church Communicators." You can check out the entire list here. I noticed Bucketology isn't listed...a minor oversight perhaps? :)

Christmas Time Is Here!

Whew!! We just completed our two Saturday evening Christmas weekend gatherings...what a great evening with a great crowd! Of course, as expected, we had several "challenges" tonight as well. From a/c issues, to lighting issues, to song issues, to noise issues, this evening was packed full of excitement. I love referring to these as "500 pound opportunities" (a quote I stole from Mark Batterson's new book).

Despite these opportunities, overall things went very well - Bryan did a great job with the message (welcome back!) - a simple but VERY effective and creative way of presenting the Christmas story. I am pumped to see what's in store for tomorrow, as well as celebrating some Christmas activities with my own family. Merry Christmas to everyone!

For free or not for free...is that really the question?

Mark Batterson posted today that the "Chase the Lion" series they just wrapped up will be available for free via an "open" site. Lifechurch.tv has also used this approach and they have received a lot of attention and hits to their site.

The whole debate on whether churches should share their information, media, messages, etc. is still out there. What are your thoughts? Should churches share their resources with others? Give me some feedback folks!

Diggin' the Video

Digg (one of my favorite sites) has gone video. Check it out here!

Lost "Soles"

Perry Noble talks about the top 20 reasons you don't want to miss this weekend's service at New Spring Church. One of my faves is number 14 (this ones for you Jeremy!):

#14 - There will NOT BE an interpretive movement done to the song “Christmas Shoes!”

Tippin' It To My Cup O' Joe

My friend and colleague Joe is taking on some new challenges. Joe has been on staff (or as a volunteer) at Meadow Heights Church longer than I can recall. Joe has recently resigned his part-time staff position in order to pursue a higher education degree and more importantly, his family. You can read more about the new plans for his life here.

Thanks for all your years of service Joe...we'll miss ya!!

Alive?? YOU BET!!

For the one or two readers of my blog, I am still alive!! I hope to be back posting on a regular basis very soon. The holiday season has particularly eaten my lunch the past week, but I'm itchin' to write about what's going on in my life.

I spent the day shopping in Cape Girardeau. We always seem to wait until the week before Christmas to do our shopping. Why is that? I have no idea, but when we hit it, we hit it hard! Fortunately, today didn't turn out to be a horribly busy shopping day. We stopped at three or four stores, then stopped at Olive Garden for lunch (we had a gift certificate!). The food was good, but the service was horrible! We hit four more stores, then ended the day with some frozen custard (the apple pie version!) before our trip home.

I then went straight to the high school to announce the varsity girls basketball game. Once again we blew out our opponent by approximately 20 while still playing 10 deep. This team is fun to watch!

There you have it...alive and kickin'! And that was just Monday! I can't wait to see what the rest of the week holds! More posting later!

Two Minutes of Fame

Last night was my daughter Emilee's first "pre-school" Christmas play. Her part lasted all of two minutes, but we had a great time. I also had the opportunity to hear Jenny Revelle - can I just say she is "stinkin' awesome!!" Jenny has attended Meadow Heights Church a few times in the past few months, but recently she has been traveling with the Lesters (who just happen to be her folks!). It was great to hear her sing, and a fitting end to a great evening!

An Enjoyable Dinner!

Saturday, my wife and I had occasion to attend the first ever Fredericktown High School Choir "Madrigal Dinner." HUGE props out to Lisa Lewis and her students for a very enjoyable dinner. We went to the luncheon performance (which, by the way, I heard had fewer "challenges" than the evening performance!), and were quite impressed with several things:

• organization - you could tell the students had prepared very well for this event
• food - for a school type dinner, the food was above average (except for the dessert - very small portions!)
• costumes - by far the best part of the dinner - you could definitely tell that many hours were spent designing and creating the costumes
• set design - from the costumes to the pictures to the instrumental performers - good concepts!
• theme interpretation - I loved how the students stayed "in character" for the performance - they used "Ye Olde English" as much as possible, we had musical performers, jesters and the works!

Again, I was very impressed with the dinner, and for a first shot at a concept that is usually very foreign to our small town, everyone enjoyed the event! I can't wait until next year!

If I Could Save Time In A Bottle...

The past few days have been a blur. Between my son's basketball games and my prep for speaking this weekend, the hours are flying by. I'll be talking about manipulative people over the weekend. Does this bring anyone to mind?

We're also getting ready for Christmas weekend. We'll be having five gatherings again this year, two on Saturday and our normal three on Sunday. Hopefully we'll be able to accommodate everyone - our last major holiday (Easter) was totally packed out. A great "challenge" to work with!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

Twenty years from now you will be more
disappointed by the things you didn't do than
by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.

~Mark Twain
via Chapter 8 of Mark Batterson's book
In A Pit With a Lion On a Snowy Day

10 Things I Love About My Three Year Old

1. Singing her ABC's for the twentieth time in a row.
2. Playing the "name game" with her.
3. When she's scared and comes running into my arms.
4. Her eyes - they change colors depending on her mood.
5. Pushing her on the swing.
6. Watching her giggle - and then laugh. Really laugh.
7. When she tells me her memory verse from KIDMO - with hand motions!
8. When she talks and cares for elderly people - just like her mom.
9. Watching her play with other kids - her conversations are amazing.
10. When she stops and says, "I love you daddy."

Soul Cravings

Erwin McManus has a new book entitled "Soul Cravings." The book has not been released yet, but I love this excerpt that speaks to the concept of the creative nature of God:

You are a unique creation made by God to live and not simply exist. Your soul longs to find its ultimate purpose. It will not rest until you do. Your soul craves its destiny. Your soul desires. It always will. You were created as a creative being. You were made to grow, to dream, to achieve. It is your soul letting you know you come from God and your life is intended for a God-sized, God-inspired life.

Making it...I think!

It's the most wonderful time...of they year. Or is it? It's FLU time at the Goldsmith residence. My wife has been battling the flu for about five days now - from the stomach to the cold and cough version. My youngest is three, and she had the two hour flu on Friday(you know the type..."Daddy I'm fine now!" she exclaims after vomiting what seems like three trash cans full) which reared its ugly head again this morning.

Thankfully my son and I have not felt the bug...a bit of uneasiness? Yes. Please be in prayer that our house will become virus free VERY SOON!!

A Healthy Church = A Healthy Leadership Culture

Dave Ferguson talks about his interview with Catalyst (how cool is that?) in his recent post. Catalyst is one of my favorite conferences (AND it's a cool name) and their creativity is "off the hook!"

So Dave talks about the climate at Community Christian Church and about the leadership culture they have created. What's amazing to me are the similarities between CCC and Meadow Heights Church. Community, Cause and Culture are three mantras that we live and breathe every single day. We love working together, hangin' together, sharing life together. We're all on this ride together to see lives changed. AND...all of us have come from business or education where we made a lot more money . Here' s how Dave sums it up:

But they chose to be here because there is just something attractive about being a team of high capacity leaders who love each other and love the mission.

I thank God for allowing me to be part of the "great experiment," and I thank my friends for joining me in the adventure. May our "otters" be forever untamed and the "warriors" within be fueled with an unending passion as we worship Him with abandon.

Follow Up?

Seth Godin recently posted about the difficulties of follow up. He suggests that it must be hard because not many people do it. It's hard because people approach it the wrong way:

Follow up. Not follow up to sell something, just to know. Just to ask. Just to set things right if they were wrong.

This has huge implications for the church. So many people are turned off by church because "religious" people call with an agenda. What happened to the relationship? Jesus sought after true relationships everyday. People over projects. I love how Seth closes out his post:

If you really want to generate those referrals, don't ask for a referral, ask if everything was great. Offer to help. Do it in a gentle way, with no strings, no additional addons, no sales pitch. If you really and truly care, why not ask? Not a form, not a survey. Just one caring person, asking. Not that hard, actually.

The church could learn a lesson from the corporate world. One caring person investing in the life of another. No hidden agendas. No "religion" up the sleeve. Authentic living. Now that's relationship!

No Vacancy

Three movies - watched all of them without falling asleep. Well, to be honest, I had to finish one movie the next day. All three very entertaining. One hit much harder than all the others.

Cars
My first attempt on Saturday night. I fell asleep about an hour in, but managed to finish it the next day. What can I say? Some of the best graphics I have seen in an animated movie, and with three kids, I have seen my fair share of animation. Cars was extremely enjoyable, had a great story, and an ending to bolster a great value - sometimes winning means losing. The whole family enjoyed this one.

Ice Age 2
WOW! This movie is HILARIOUS! There are SO many one-liners, it was often times hard to keep up. One disclaimer - there are a few spots in this movie that 3 year olds probably shouldn't hear. Most of the questionable content went right over my 3 year old's head, but fair warning to parents of young children. Otherwise, this movie is highly recommended for some great laughs, and the story line is decent as well (if you're in to the whole global warming thing).

Click
A great movie. One that hit me right in the gut. I was expecting a funny comedy from Adam Sandler, and he doesn't disappoint. But what I wasn't really expecting was the impacting ending of this movie. If you haven't seen this movie yet, skip to the end of this post. I'm not a big emotional type of guy. Very few movies make me cry, but this one hit me hard for some reason. By the end I was bawlin' away. It definitely hit too close to home for me. I could write an entire post on how we "fast forward" through life, but let me hit one concept here.

I had an opportunity to visit with my grandparents over Thanksgiving. They live in Kansas, so I don't get the opportunity to see them very often. It was very apparent during my visit that they are both nearing the end of their lives. Most of us go through life thinking our grandparents (and even our parents) are indestructible - they'll always be there for us. When I saw the feebleness of my grandparents showing in a tangible way, I was reminded about the frailty of life. I OFTEN TAKE LIFE FOR GRANTED.

We sat for about an hour reminiscing about the past and telling lots of stories. God really spoke to me on my drive home that night. Here's what He asked me: Are you making memories or vacancies? It doesn't really matter what people SAY about you when you're gone - it's the memories of HOW you lived they will remember. Are you impacting lives or simply content to fill your own life with memories? Am I filling my kids with memories or leaving them with vacancies?

That's why Click hit me so hard. It was another reminder from God to invest in people and build memories. The BEST memories. The brain is a funny thing. It can recall specific memories based on a certain color, smell, or even a particular place. I would bet you are recalling things from your past right now. YOU have memories. But God says that we can't stop there. It's not enough to build our own memories - we have to share those with others as well. So the question is what memories will you create? Or maybe you've been creating more vacancies instead?

Take time this week to watch Click. You won't be disappointed, and I hope you'll really be challenged. I'll close this post with a few words from the classic hit "The Way We Were." I think they're worth considering:

Memories
Like the corners of my mind
Misty watercolor memories
Of the way we were
Scattered pictures
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were

Pay It Forward

Okay...so I never thought I would post anything about Oprah. Especially not TWICE. My wife was watching Oprah today (I swear it was her!) and they had a recap show about the "Pay It Forward" moments they have had since giving each member in the audience $1000 to spend on someone else. Talk about incredible stories!!

It was amazing to me that lives were impacted in such an incredible way - not because people took the initiative themselves, but because Oprah initiated it for them. Would those same people have made the effort on their own? Probably not. It doesn't mean their hearts were any less compassionate, but it does mean that sometimes we need an "external" motivator. The fact that Oprah gave everyone the $1000 certainly helped as well, but random acts of kindness don't have to revolve around money exclusively.

I'm sure there will be updates on this show - it was truly phenomenal. Lives can and will be changed if we will only seize the opportunities. Don't wait for someone else to be the catalyst.

Now We're Talkin' Turkey!

I'm starting to feel a bit guilty for not having posted in several days...

I just checked out several of my favorite blogs. I feel better. They haven't updated either.

Like most of you, my Thanksgiving was great - lots of family, food, and fun. Mine also involved close to 850 miles of driving - yikes! I must say it was well worth the trip - more on that later.

I have a lot rolling around in my brain again. That can't be good! I actually watched a movie today - not just one, not two, but THREE total. I'll write some thoughts on all three tomorrow.

I have also finished several books in the past few weeks, including In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day. I'll write a review of that book in the next few days as well. Quick props to Mark Batterson for sending me a free copy of the book!

I hope all of you had a great weekend and are looking forward to the start of another week!

One Word - "PHENOMENAL!"

This past weekend will probably rank as the top weekend I have ever experienced during my short tenure at Meadow Heights Church. God was at work in so many ways, I'm not sure how to express the vibe from the weekend. Let me start by giving a recap:

• 680 people in attendance (up 41% from the same weekend last year)
• Nearly 40 guests, most of whom were first timers
• 17 Baptisms - 4 of which were totally spontaneous, including the salvation of an agnostic man
• Our new "portable" baptistery - the first "multi-site" purchase IN ACTION!
• 9 Videos - 8 baptism videos and the MPACT Day Highlight Video

Then we turned around and headed over to the banquet at the high school gymnasium - WOW! What a great event!! We sold out this year's event (500 tickets!) and had some incredible food, a jazz combo from MAC, 3 "fun" videos, and one video/song package (complete with highlights from all the baptisms the weekend) that totally rocked (and directed by God!). We closed out the evening with "Came to My Rescue" led by Jeremiah. This song speaks volumes - to ALL of us, and was truly a perfect cap to the weekend.

All in all it was a PHENOMENAL weekend. What's NEXT? I don't know, but what I do know is that the answer is YES!

There's A Party Goin' On Round Here...

A quick update...we are busily preparing for our annual "Celebration Weekend," and the annual banquet as well. Things are shaping up for a PHENOMENAL weekend - a recap of our NEXT series (started 6 weeks ago) including MPACT Day highlight video, baptism videos, 12-15 baptisms, and a WHOLE LOT MORE! We're praying that God will do much more than we could ask or imagine in our wildest dreams, and it looks like He is preparing the way!

Sunday evening, we'll head over to the high school gym for our "imagineNEXT" banquet. Total capacity is 500 people, and we nearly sold out when tickets went on sale. The place is gonna be rockin'! Plank Road Inn is catering our dinner and we'll also have several videos, live entertainment from Dr. Kevin White and his combo, some vision casting, music, and whatever else God has in store.

So...if I fail to post for a few days, I hope that I am still alive, but more than likely God is preparing us for our NEXT steps! In those infamous words, "Catch you on the flip side!"

Here We "Grow" Again

I don't think it's any coincidence that two of my favorite bloggers recently posted about church growth. One talks about their values that facilitated growth and the other shares seven principles on how to handle growth.

Perry Noble on facilitating growth (you can read the entire post here):

• We talk about Jesus - a LOT!!
• Speaking of the Bible - we teach straight from scripture
• We are creative
• We care about reaching kids

Mark Batterson on "Seven Leadership Principles" (you can read the entire post here):

• The bigger we get, the more grounded we have to stay
• The bigger we get, the more above reproach we need to be
• The bigger we get, the harder it is to maintain unity
• The bigger we get, the more complicated things get
• The bigger we get, the more we have to guard our hearts
• The bigger we get, the better stewards we need to be
• The bigger we get, the more we have to remind ourselves of why we're doing what we're doing and who we're doing it for

BOTH are extremely valuable reminders. BOTH are incredibly applicable to Meadow Heights Church as we experience God's blessings during our own "growing season."

The Power To Shape The Future

I spent some time talking with a close friend last night. He has had a rough week, including the death of a former student. It seems neither one of us can escape the emotional past of our teaching careers. As any teacher will tell you, building relationships with your students is one of the most rewarding elements of education. As all relationships go, this can be both good and bad, pleasant and messy, authentic or not, and temporary or long-lasting. But it's all worth it. When a student writes or calls you years later to thank you for making a difference in their lives...well, it's one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences.

Each and every one of us has the power to make a difference in someone's life. The relationships we build, the conversations we have, the words we use...all of those have influence. We can all recall times in the past when someone shared some kind words with us, or built into us. We can equally remember the not so good times when we were criticized, verbally abused or shunned. Both have the power to shape lives. There are probably thoughts from your past running through your mind right now.

So I'll close with a reminder that what we say today can have a lasting impact on tomorrow. Choose your words carefully. Just as you have arrived today with words from the past, so will those you come into contact with today relive in the future. The power of the positive. The glass half full. Build and restore.

"Whoever accepts this child as if the child were me, accepts me," he said. "And whoever accepts me, accepts the One who sent me. You become great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference." Luke 9:48 (MsgB)

Give Me A "W"

I held up for Wal Mart a few posts back, but this latest news story has me questioning which side of the fence they play. After using only the word "Holiday" in their television and print ads over the past few years, here's what one representative had to say:

"We learned a lesson from that. Merry Christmas is now part of the vocabulary here at Wal-Mart," said Linda Blakley, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman.

I can only assume that as more attention is given to the fact that "spirituality" in our nation is on the rise, Wal Mart will "adjust" its marketing strategy to accommodate. While it's true that marketing is a key ingredient for success, Wal Mart was founded upon a core ideology of the common man. Christmas was celebrated because of Jesus, not to accomplish a marketing plan. Flopping back and forth as the wind blows has become the norm as convenience triumphs over values.

So for now, I guess Wal Mart has once again put the Merry back in Christmas.

If Tomorrow Never Comes

Well it's been a busy week as usual. It's been more, more, more in less time. Rob Wegner talked about this concept in a message from Granger Community Church a few weeks ago. If you struggle with "busyness" then stop whatever you are doing and download his message. It's only $4.00 and you won't regret it. If you can't afford the four bucks, email me and I'll check on sharing a copy with you.

A few takeaways:

• We keep trying to do more, more, more in less time. What if we turned that upside down and did less in more time. Not sure how to do that? Read what Jesus has to say.
• We are a society full of experiences but we are missing out on the relationships.
• Some of us are no longer human "beings" but are now human "doings."

Seth Godin talked a few weeks ago about marketing and branding. His point was whether or not people will remember you when your gone. He gave reference to Tower Records who shut their doors last week. Will anyone remember Tower Records in a few years? Probably not.

Would anyone miss you if you were gone tomorrow? Is the "more, more, more" that you are accomplishing today going to make a difference tomorrow? What will people say about you when your gone?

Maybe the more important question is what people are saying about you today. Today is a perfect day to start making a difference. As the classic hit song suggests, "If tomorrow never comes..." Don't wait.

MPACT Day 2006

MPACT Day 2006 - what an amazing day!! Hundreds of volunteers from Meadow Heights Church partnered with area schools this past Saturday morning to complete projects ranging from painting to clean up to repairs. In total, 7 schools (Fredericktown, Marquand, Patton, Ironton, Piedmont, Farmington and MO Baptist University) were "mpacted" in a positive way.

I was at the Fredericktown school, and WOW! Watching over a hundred people working together to make our schools a better place was simply a phenomenal experience. Why did we do this? Was it to promote an agenda? To "expect" something in return? I think the scripture I quoted a few days ago says it all:

"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." John 13:34-35 (MsgB)

Love. Showing love to others in a practical way. Serving others the way Jesus asks us to serve - by following His example. And that's exactly what hundreds of people did at 7 different schools.

I hope this is just our first step in loving our community and MPACTing others. We will do what only we can do, and we'll let God take care of what only He can do. A HUGE thanks to all those who dedicated their time, energy and talent to make MPACT day a success. THANK YOU!

Be Our Guest!

We had a great visit after our Saturday evening gathering with 20 folks from Trinity United Methodist Church in Piedmont, Missouri. This growing church had some great questions for us about the lessons we have learned in the past and how they might gain some insight from our experiences.

First of all, we realize that we certainly don't have all the answers, just the ones that have worked for us. We were also very humbled by the fact that other churches would ask us for advice. Secondly, we are excited by the opportunity that God is giving us to impact other local churches. We have been helped by so many other churches on our own journey and we want to pass along as much information and help as we possibly can.

It was awesome to be able to answer their questions, but I was stuck by the fact that we were answering questions we had already worked through and answered many months or even years ago. That made me wonder about when we travel to other churches or conferences and ask questions - do they have that same feeling as well?

Thanks again to Michael and his church for spending Saturday evening with us!

Even Wal Mart Loves Sinners

I've been thinking about how to shape my comments for this particular post. That's not normally my mode of thinking, but I'm not sure how to phrase what I'm about to say any other way. Religion sucks. I am blown away at the comments of people who claim to "represent" those of us who follow Jesus.

Take this week for example. Our beloved Missouri Baptist Convention met for their yearly shindig, and I'm sure the normal course of conversation filled the air. "How are you doing?" "I'm just fine. How are you doing?" (feign an interested voice here) "Well how is your church doing?" "Just great. We blah blah blah this year. How about you?" "Well, not so good. You won't believe what our pastor is doing blah blah blah."

And then they convene.

"Hear ye! Hear ye! Let this meeting come to order. I've got an idea. How about we vote to oust the gay population from our earth?"

Don't believe this happened? Read this story.

The MO Baptist Convention adopted a formal resolution pledging to "ban" consumer support of all Wal Mart stores. Or in more "politically correct" language, to "exercise moral stewardship regarding the businesses they patronize." Some delegates (messengers to be exact) demanded harsher words be used in the resolution. Why the ban? Simply because Wal Mart has agreed to provide an equal opportunity working environment free from discrimination.

Now please don't misunderstand me. I am not in favor of gay rights, gay lifestyle, or any other "choice" that someone may make. I believe that God has set up an order of marriage that includes a man and a woman in one of the most sacred relationship. That part is biblically very clear.

The part I don't read about in the Bible is where we condemn those who may have a different sin than us. Let's face it. All sin is sin. If we are going to ban Wal Mart for allowing gays to work there, shouldn't we ban other businesses who have employees who are having sex out of marriage, or maybe an employee that beats their spouse, or someone who doesn't spend any time with their kids? Or better yet, let's not shop any place where there are sinners at all. Won't that fix the problem?

Jesus doesn't tell us to love only those who agree with our same beliefs. He says to love one another as He loves us:

"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." John 13:34-35 (MsgB)

Many people are confused on this issue. WE DON'T GET TO CHOOSE. Will you be a radical follower and disciple of Jesus, or will you simply be content to live a life full of religion?

We will never fix life's problems. Never. We will always fall short of the perfectness God originally designed. Ignoring the problem or "voting it away" like it never happened is similar to the colloquial expression "calling the kettle black." When you clean up the pot, it's still black.

Let me suggest something radical. Something so radical that Jesus thought of it (and was certainly accused of it) 2000 years ago. What if we simply develop relationships with those who have never experienced the love God? No condemning, no judging. Authentic relationships built on authentic conversations.

Let's do our part and let God take care of the rest.

Have you been "flogged" lately?

Blogging or Flogging? That's the question posed by Jon Ferguson in his new blog. Here's the summation:

1) You know you're "flogging" when your blog becomes a backhanded way to confront somebody or deal with something in public that should have been handled in private.

2) You know you're "flogging" when you communicate stuff through your blog that the people you work with should hear from you firsthand before the rest of the world.

3) You know you're "flogging" when your writing more than 50% of your blog posts after midnight.

4) You know you're "flogging" when your wife (spouse) reads your blog to find out what you're really thinking.

5) You know you're "flogging" and not "blogging" when most of your posts include numbered lists like this one.

Well, except for the first one, I think I'm guilty as charged!

My Little Tinkerbell

Do you remember trick-or-treating when you were young? I can remember my mom dropping me off in town and a friend and I would literally run block to block trying to shove as much candy into a sack as possible. We would usually be all sweaty and worn out by the time the evening was over, but man! Did we ever have candy!

Today's Halloween climate is a bit different. Neighborhoods are not quite as safe as they used to be, some folks give out "healthier" version of candy (or candy alternatives - geez...give me a break!), and the costumes are less "homemade" and more made-over.

With that being said, I still enjoy taking my little one trick-or-treating and this year was no exception. My "Tinkerbell" was a trooper (battling an ear-ache) and enjoyed gathering candy throughout the evening. Now sure would be a good time to teach tithing!

O is for Oprah and for Outreach

Oprah has given a lot of cash and prizes away to her guest audience before, but yesterday she gave them something quite unusual: a $1000 gift card that had to be "given away." Did I hear that correctly? Give away? Is this simply another confirmation that God is on the move and Acts 2 is becoming a reality?

You can read the entire story here, but I love this quote from the show she claimed is one of her favorites:

"You're going to open your hearts, you're going to be really creative, and you're going to spend it all at once on one stranger or spend a dollar on every person," Winfrey said. "Imagine the love and kindness you can spread with $1,000."

It doesn't end with Oprah. It starts with all of us. It may be money, or physical talent, or even time, but it starts with each of us. What will you "give away" this week?

The Deer Hunter

I've never been a big hunter. As a matter of fact, I have only been hunting one time. A friend took me turkey hunting and here's how that played out: I trekked five mintues into the woods, sat down, looked out into a field, saw a dozen or so turkeys land, raised my gun, shot, grabbed my turkey and headed for breakfast. Total time? Less than thirty minutes. Isn't that the way all hunting trips are supposed to work?

Our small town is hung up on the hunting thing, so not wanting my son to feel "out of place" or to be made fun of at school (such a thoughtful dad, right?), I agreed to let him go hunting with a friend of mine (BIG props out to Jason Wengler for investing some time with my son!!). Little did I know that he would come back with his first deer! He was pumped (I can't say the same for my wife) and ready to eat some deer sticks and jerky.

I'm so glad Seth had this experience. It would have been easy to let my pride get in the way, for me to feign an expertise in hunting, and ultimately Seth would have been the one to suffer. I am so thankful that we have a community of friends who are willing to invest in our teenagers! We are all gifted in different ways, and big or small, we are the only ones who can choose to offer our gifts to others.

The Universe Is Spinning

It's been a crazy past three days. I'm not quite sure where it all went, but I do know that much emotion, effort and determination played a key role. Here's a summation of what's been happening:

• Funeral - the sudden death of one of my former students (and my daughter's classmate - the third from their graduating class!) was a definite shock to our community. A good kid with a big heart. Kevin, we'll miss ya!
• Carninals Win! - the Cardinals celebrated their World Series Victory in fine fashion on Friday night. I must admit, I liked the Tigers and their scrappy spirit!
• Youth Hunt - a good friend of ours took my son deer hunting on Saturday morning, and yep, Seth shot his first deer ever. I'll post a pic later.
  
• Wedding - another former student of mine asked me to play saxophone in her wedding. It was a beautiful event and I know she will be very happy!
• Weekend Gatherings - we had some huge crowds this weekend - the box score will reveal the final details, but I would imagine we'll break the 600 mark again this weekend. God is definitely on the move!
• CLASS Night - we had well over 100 people attend our CLASS night. I will be shocked if we don't break our past attendance record. We also implemented CLASS 401 for the first time and revealed part of our MPACT plan.

There is so much more spinning around in my head right now, but that will have to be processed later. But now, I will be enjoying some time off with my wife and daughter!

A2

There has been a lot of buzz around the A2 conference at Willow Creek this week. I haven't read a lot commentary from this event, but Perry Noble shares his thoughts from the conference on his blog. I did catch part of the live streamcast on Wednesday, and from the few minutes of Craig Groeschel that I heard, I was blown away by what I was hearing. I can't wait to listen or watch the recordings.

Willow has put up several links to downloads from the event. You can find those here.

Let the Revolution Begin

Perry Noble talks about his staff in a recent post. What's so amazing to me is that God has prepared so many key leaders in advance and has placed them in each of our churches at exactly the right time. Around Meadow Heights we call this having the "right people in the right seat on the right bus at the right time."

I'm sure many of us could share story after story about how the staff we work with are the "best ever." It's another confirmation to me that the Revolution is beginning.

Christ Follower Part 2

Eric Bramlett and his team at CCC have done it again with "I'm A Christ Follower Part 2." You can check out the video here, or go to YouTube and do a quick search. This is hilarious! Thanks Eric!

An Unstoppable Force

To "mega-church" or not to "mega-church," that is the question. Or is it? Alex McManus takes a stab at this question in his recent article. While I don't agree completely with Alex on the current status of church in America, I do agree with the basis of his conclusion: we need to return to the roots of church in the 1st Century.

A friend of mine coined a unique phrase that I think is a great representation of where Meadow Heights Church is today. Here's what he said:

"Meadow Heights is taking first century values (the teachings of Jesus) and applying them to a 21st Century world."

I love how he's phrased that. We've been talking in great length lately about Acts 2:42-47 and how that passage of scripture is not simply a historical story, but it is coming to fruition in our day and age. In fact, it's the vision we feel God has laid out before us and is challenging us to take hold of without apology. We're staking everything we have around building this dream.

Whether our church is "mega" or just a few, the question is not about the size, but are we following the teachings of Jesus? Does mega describe the number of people in our church, or the size of the hearts of our people? Let's not forget to take a look in the mirror occasionally for a "heart check." The passion of reaching people who don't have a relationship with Jesus is only the first step - we have to have a plan of action to carry out the vision.

I know I've posted this before, but there is something incredible about this passage. If today's church catches hold of the power of this passage - not the power of the past, but it's power in the here and now - we will be an unstoppable force for Jesus. May these words be in your prayers this week.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

Top 10 - Blogs I Visit Almost Daily

I thought I would camp out on some Top 10 categories for the next week or so. A quick reminder that Top 10 lists are intended for discussion, mindless fodder, or complete disregard. There's my disclaimer and I'm stickin' to it. If you don't agree with my Top 10 then post a comment, email me or make your own Top 10. It's just my opinion...for whatever that's worth!

Today's Top 10: Blogs I visit almost daily. I love reading blogs. I've try to keep my "blog roll" down to the bare minimum, but it's getting pretty crowded. I know several folks who use RSS feeds to keep up with daily posts. I haven't gone there yet, but I know that day is quickly approaching. But for now, I'll continue to poke around and click on each blog during my "blog hunt o' the day."

So, without further ado, Top 10 Blogs I visit almost daily (in no particular order):

1. The Howser House. The personal blog of my friend, colleague, and fellow traveler, John describes daily life and all of his experiences in life. Life is good, right?
2. Tony Morgan. One of the "Simply Strategic Guys" and also a very funny man. His takes on life and how God interacts with us are quite interesting and always entertaining.
3. Evotional. Mark Batterson of National Community Church in D.C. has one of my favorite blogs. He is incredibly insightful, extremely funny, and down to earth. Plus, he's sending me a free copy of his newest book, "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day."
4. Steve Emlund. One of my former students, Steve is studying graphic design at Truman in Kirksville. Steve is one of the most creative guys I know, and while he doesn't update his blog nearly as often as he should, his posts are well worth the read. He also posts samples of his work.
5. Dave Ferguson. I first met Dave at a multi-site conference his church (Community Christian Church) hosted. Dave is one of those guys who is immediately likeable. I enjoy reading his blog for the practical insights and helpful tips he provides.
6. Eric's Eddyfications. The blog of Eric Bramlett, the Creative Arts Director at Community Christian. I met Eric at the multi-site conference as well, and his blog has some wonderfully creative ideas. His videos are very...hmmm...entertaining? Bring on the Seuss!
7. Seth's Blog. Seth Godin is a marketing guru. His concepts for business are many times a perfect fit for the church. This guy is incredibly intelligent - a must for anyone in business or involved at church!
8. Digg. Man, I love this site!! As a techno-geek, Digg has links to just about every story on the web. Readers "digg" various stories which are tallied to let the reader know how "good" the story might be. It's really like hundreds of personal reporters giving you the "lowdown" before you invest a lot of time on your own. A highly recommended blog.
9. Perry Noble. I have just started reading Perry's blog the past month or so and I haven't been disappointed. This guy tells it like it is and I love it! Perry's church, NewSpring Church has exploded with growth and changed lives. His blog details his adventure.
10. Bucketology. I couldn't post without visiting this site daily, right? This blog has been a great way for me to bleed my brain, pour out my emotions, or simply type out some meaningless stuff. For my few readers, thanks for coming along for the ride!

So there you have it. My Top 10 Blogs I visit almost daily. There are many others who are worthy of consideration, but many of you guys don't update consistently - you know who you are! I would love to know some other blogs that you guys visit almost daily. Please add to this list in the comment section as you see fit!

I Promise

I'm back in town from three wonderful days at the "I Promise" marriage conference. Our full-time ministry staff and our wives traveled to Branson with many laughs, tired backsides, and sessions filled with incredible insights and stories. It was a great reminder to me about the importance of my marriage (and ALL marriages) and some great thoughts on how to focus on building into my wife and my marriage.

There were some great speakers including Dr. Gary Smalley, Dr. Gary Chapman, Ed and Lisa Young, and John and Nancy Ortberg. With 9 sessions in two and a half days and no computer access, I won't even try to recap all the sessions. Some big takeaways?

• No one can control how you react to any given situation or circumstance except yourself.
• Just because you haven't taken a "big exit" in your marriage doesn't mean you can overlook the "little exits."
  
• It's hard to worship when you are constantly "scrutinizing" the programming and execution of the music (or lack thereof)
• I love food and I'm full of it (the food that is)
• Ed and Lisa were very dynamic; John and Nancy...well...they're not
• Gary Smalley is funny...very funny and has some great stories
• "Hiding God's Word In My Heart" has taken on a totally new meaning for me
• Our hotel was stunning - Chateau on the Lake is a great place to stay (and they have phenomenal soap!)
• Mac is still funny with five women in a van
• Out of the five couples, Melissa and I have been married the longest (man...that is scary!)
  

I could go on, but it's getting late and there is much to do to get ready for the weekend. The conference was great, and three days with my wife is a huge blessing for us since we don't get that opportunity very often. Now let's see if we can put what we have learned into practice!