It's Sounds Diffi"cult"

From time to time we'll hear of someone labeling a church as a "cult." I've never heard anyone refer to Meadow Heights as a cult, but I'm sure those folks are out there. Perry Noble did some research on the definition of a cult, and he blogs about it here.

Here are the four main points he makes:

#1 - In a cult everyone is expected to talk, look, act and believe the same thing
#2 - In a cult people strive to keep things the way they are
#3 - A cult’s main concern are those who are insiders
#4 - A cult is passionate about man-made rules

What's interesting are the very "religious" claims that a cult makes about itself. These are the antithesis of what it means to follow Jesus. If you take even a glimpse at the life of Jesus and what He is asking the "big C" church to do, it looks totally opposite of the values of a cult. That sounds a lot like the "religious" leaders of the Bible- more focus on them than on God.

Is there anything in your own life that you focus on more than God?

Frustrated!

By the way...can anyone tell me why sometimes my posts are double spaced, but other times they are single spaced?? This is driving me nuts!! I can't wait to officially launch my new blog...stay tuned for more details!

May I Have the List Please...

Lists. It seems like everyone is doing a list these days. Here are some examples (funny...this is a list!):

• The "to-do" list
• The grocery list
• The Christmas list
• Forbes richest list
• David Letterman's Top 10 List
• Time's Most Important List
• Mr. Blackwell's "best and worst" dressed list

and on...and on...and on...

Churchrelevance is getting in on the action as well. They recently published the "Top 22 Churches In America." This list is based on 7 other lists (HEY! Another list! Kind of ironic isn't it?):

• 07 AMIC = Outreach magazine’s 2007 America’s 25 Most Innovative Churches
• 06 FGC = Outreach magazine’s 2006 100 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches
• 06 LC = Outreach magazine’s 2006 100 Largest U.S. Churches
  
• 06 MIC = The Church Report’s 2006 50 Most Influential Churches
• 05 FGC = Outreach magazine’s 2005 100 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches
• 05 MIC = The Church Report’s 2005 50 Most Influential Churches
• 04 FGC = Outreach magazine’s 2004 100 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches

They also have a list of over 250 "churches to watch." Obviously they haven't checked out Meadow Heights (insert smiley face here)! The bigger question is this - why do people love lists? Do you enjoy reading "lists?"

For the record, there are many folks out there who don't enjoy lists. You can check out two from LifeChurch.tv - this post by Bobby Gruenewald, and this post by Craig Groeschel.

Can I get a list anyone?

The Best Is Yet To Come

I'm sitting here unwinding on the couch typing this entry. It's been a long weekend but I can't sleep. I think my body is in the "over-tired" mode where you're so tired that you can't sleep.

I had the opportunity to teach at our five gatherings this weekend (not to mention our CLASS night!), and as always, God works in incredible ways. It usually feels like God has taken me on an incredible journey, and while He might be impacting others, I come away feeling like He's given me so much more than I've given Him or anyone else. It's really hard to explain unless you've gone through that experience. It is both an awesome and humbling experience all at the same time. I learned so much today about the importance of miracles - it's been a recurring theme of our series - not the importance of the miracle itself, but having faith that God can do the miracle if He chooses. The REAL miracle, regardless of the outcome, is how our lives are changed as a result of our faith.

So as I prepare to drag myself into bed, I am thankful that God has given us the promise that despite our difficult circumstances, or the crisis in our life, or our unmet expectations, He is always working and that His best is yet to come.

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. So if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he's doing, and he'll keep on doing it.

1 Peter 4:12-13, 19 (MsgB)

The Umbrella Of Mercy

I remember teaching my Music Appreciation students about the subjectivity of art. I would always start by asking them to describe what they thought art was. Most would give examples from traditional forms of art such as paintings, sculptures, ceramics, etc. But then we would get into the discussion about other items such as chairs, tables, chalkboards, etc. Are these considered art? A great debate would ensue until we would all usually settle on the following:

ANYTHING can be considered art. Art is in the eye of the beholder.

My wife is setting beside me as I type, and I'm sure when she reads this that she'll get a good chuckle over the statement above. I mean, think of it this way. If God created us and anything is considered art then by definition, humans are all considered art (remember the old math adage a=b=c?). If that's the case then I'm sure God is the only one who appreciates this work of art (meaning me). At least I hope He does.

So what's the point of this discussion? Eric recently posted about the subjectivity of art. Eric is the Creative Arts Director at Community Christian Church in Naperville, IL (think Chicago!). Eric had me rolling with this description:

At CCC, we pretty much have a "free reign" policy on such matters. Everyone here pretty much says whatever the heck the feel like regarding someone's art. We often mock the concept of an "umbrella of mercy." We say things like "there are no bad ideas, only bad people." and one time, we shattered an umbrella, hung it in the corner, and treated it like an umbrella of mercy "shame corner" for when a bad idea was uttered. As I recall, by the end of the brainstorming session, creative types were sending themselves into the corner when bringing up an idea that falls flat.

During the creative arts meetings at Meadow Heights Church, we'll often unleash the "umbrella of mercy" before throwing out an idea. Eric's peeps take it to another level! But I love it! Make sure you read the rest of his post however, as he talks about how there are times a leader must make a decision. I love that about our church - we aren't afraid to talk about the concepts or ideas, but in the end, the leader makes the decision, and we all walk away with three things:

(1) Everyone knows the decision has been made
(2) Everyone accepts the decision and backs the leader 100%
(3) After all is said and done, we still love each other

You won't find too many environments where you can have healthy conflict, arrive at a solution that everyone agrees is the best decision at the time, and you walk away loving and respecting everyone in the process. Simply amazing.

I'm a Mac...No Wait...I'm a PC

I never thought I would say this...

I'm considering a Mac for my next computer. Eegads (cue Oklahoma music here).

I swore for years and years that I would never own a Mac. After many years of experience editing video, creating music, and creating graphics, I have come to the conclusion (and after much reading) that a Mac might be a better choice for my current career path.

I know, I know. You diehard PC fans (and I would still number myself among them) will spout fact after fact about how PC's are superior to the Mac, and how you can do anything you want on a PC. I used to agree. I'm not quite sure how I'll process the situation if it comes to fruition.

I did find an article on "switching" - one man's honest take on his journey from PC to Mac. You can read his thoughts here.

I'll close by asking the opinion(s) of my faithful readers - what are your thoughts on the PC vs. Mac? I'm anxious to hear from you!

Impotence (Keep Reading!)

Perry Noble has a phenomenal post on "impotence." Don't be too alarmed, the post will make sense when you read it. After reading the report on the rise of aethism in America, I loved Perry's take on the state of the church. Perry hits it on the head - it's all about passion.

Hit the Shower!

Tim Sanders hits on a topic I've posted on before - why your best thinking is done in the shower. Each and every morning I take a hot shower while my brain begins to percolate and ideas start to flow. I've always said that most of my best ideas have originated in the shower.

Here's what Tim has to say:

When you shower, your body produces chemicals such as DHEA, a powerful enzyme that boosts your ability to leverage your brain's capacity. I've visited a tech R&D lab that had showers as part of the bathrooms just because of this phenom...Take your shower at a time when you have loaded up your head with today's problems to solve. We get dozens of those a day. If you shower first thing, do your daily do list and circle the ones that require problem and solution thinking.

Tim addresses this further in his book, "The Likeability Factor." I haven't had time to read this book yet, but it's on my short list.

When do you do your best thinking? What types of things do you do to generate ideas?

I (Still) Need A Hero

I'd just like to say that Heroes is STINKIN' AWESOME!! This show ranks up there with some of the best ever. If you haven't had the opportunity to check it out - DO SO IMMEDIATELY! You won't be disappointed. The characters, plot development, special effects - all are top notch. Tonight's episode was unbelievable - next week's looks even better. Until then!

The US - A Religious Melting Pot?

A recent survey conducted by the Institute for Humanistic studies claims that "aethism" is increasing in the United States:

A new survey in the U.S. shows that the number of 18-25 year olds who are atheist, agnostic or nonreligious has increased from 11 percent in 1986 to 20 percent today. Meanwhile a survey of the United States and the five largest countries in Western Europe reveals that religious belief continues to plummet in Europe, with Italy being the only country with a majority believing in any form of God or supreme being. And even in these overwhelmingly godless countries, the young are still significantly less religious than their elders.

While I have not seen the statistics from the actual survey itself (or how they conducted it), I would agree that America is showing signs of becoming a religious "melting pot." The article continues:

Overall, the US looks a lot like Western Europe 30 or 40 years ago. At that time most Europeans still believed in a god, but younger generations were more atheist and agnostic than their elders. That trend has continued with religion steadily declining, generation by generation.

I have to say that I too am against "religion." You read that correctly. But I am for a relationship with Jesus. When we try to cram religious principles down the throats of the younger generation, their immediate reaction will be one of contempt. Religion didn't work 2000 years ago either. But when you build into a relationship while discovering what it means to follow Jesus, everything changes.

The Church (Big C) needs a wake up call. Fortunately, I firmly believe that many churches have already answered the phone. They are finding creative ways to impact their communities; discussions have been generated and technology has been leveraged. I don't know what "religion" will look like in a 100 years, but I do know that Jesus will never change...and that gives us all hope. Let the battle begin...

Beatboxing flute inspector gadget remix

For my buddy Jeremy, who loves the flute! Thanks to Greg at Church Video Ideas for the link.

Blogging In the Forest

Seth Godin poses an interesting question on his blog - "If no one reads your post, does it exist?" This is similar to the old adage, "If a tree falls in the forest..." Why do we write? There are very few blogs that have an active readership, so Seth's question is a valid one.

Here are my reasons for writing "Bucketology":

• It's an outlet for me to describe how God is affecting my daily life - as I mention in the description, they are snippets from my life experiences.

• I have never enjoyed "hand writing" in a journal, log, or other paper method. I enjoy leveraging technology in an effective way.

• I enjoy sharing what other's have written. What a great way to give props to the creative thoughts and ideas of others! Blogs are an incredibly effective way to learn a lot of information in a short period of time (unfortunately, because of Seth's insight, a lot of great information is buried in "cyberspace.")

• It's a way for me to leave a legacy for my family and future generations. Granted, it might not be much of a legacy, but it's mine, and for some reason, my family enjoys getting to know me.

Even if no one reads my blog, or reads it once and doesn't enjoy it, it's still a great way for me to "empty my head" and process what's going on in my life. A blog doesn't replace personal relationships or communication, but sometimes it's difficult to strike up a conversation at two in the morning!

So, is anybody out there reading this blog?

Volunteers - The Backbone of An Organization

Volunteers are a very important part of any organization. That's why we take great care to honor our volunteers and to let them know they're doing a great job. Of course we also hold them accountable when needed because we feel that God wants us to lead our volunteers and to help them discover their giftedness and unique contributions. Sometimes that means difficult conversations. Ultimately, we want to help our volunteers find their giftedness, in the area of their heart's desire, using their abilities, accommodating their personality, while building experiences.

While we find ways to recognize our volunteers throughout the year, we also have a special celebration once a year to give public recognition to all of our volunteers. This has been a great event in the past, but we are trying to brainstorm some creative ideas on how to celebrate with our volunteers. Mark Batterson describes how they honor their volunteers in this post. Very cool.

How do you recognize your volunteers? What are some creative ideas that you would recommend?

C3 - Turning What If Into What Is

Tony Morgan has posted his thoughts about the opening day of the C3 Conference. Several of us will be attending the regional C3 site in St. Louis in a few months. Ed Jr. is the main speaker, with an afternoon of breakouts. It should be a great mini-conference!

JT and the Virtual Memory Machine

Props go out to my buddy JT on his new blog, or what he fondly refers to as his "virtual memory." Jason has some incredible insights and his writing is phenomenal. Definitely check out his post on the recent miracle he experienced - it will blow you away!

Monday Funny

Mark Batterson points out some interesting differences between men and women:

A man will pay $20 for a $10 item he wants. A woman will pay $10 for a $20 item that she doesn't want.

The average man has four items in his bathroom--a toothbrush, an electric razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Holiday Inn. The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 437. The average man is able to identify four of those items!

A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

If Emma, Suzanne, Debra and Michelle go out for lunch, they will call each other Emma, Suzanne, Debra and Michelle. But if Mike, Phil, Rob, and Jack go out for lunch, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut Head and Useless.

Women love cats. Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick cats.

Sean Michel

American Idol is about to heat up! The top 24 have been announced and I can't wait for it to get started. The field seems to be very even this year with lots of great talent once again. I did notice their isn't an "oddball" this year - the one person who stands out (good or bad) and sets themselves apart from everyone else.

You might have seen Sean Michel on the show recently. He made it to the Hollywood round, but unfortunately was cut. I loved his initial audition and his unusual look. Check out this interview with Relevant Magazine. You can also visit his MySpace page and listen to his band.

By the way, Chris Sligh (I posted about him recently) made it through to the top 24!

Catching Up with the Catfish

It's been a busy past few days. We had some friends from Illinois in for a four day visit. Catfish (a long time nickname), Angie and their three kids hung out, ate lots of food and played the Wii - we had a blast. Catfish and Angie have been friends of ours for 20 years. Angie watched my oldest daughter Kayla my freshman year in college and we've been friends ever since.

I was hoping they would come to church with us this weekend, but they just wanted to hang out at the house. Catfish did go to our Life Group with us, and I think he had a blast. Once again, our Life Group had some phenomenal discussions about God and life. We had a chance to digest some questions related to Miracles, our current series at Meadow Heights Church. I'm always amazed to hear how God is at work in the lives of people I love and care about. He is truly a good God.

Mission Accomplished

I just finished an email to an old friend. I miss our conversations. He has been through the thick and thin of my life, but always with a helping hand and a positive outlook. I love that about him.

It started me thinking about accomplishments. For so much of my life I was building a resume of experiences and accomplishments. The theory was that these accomplishments would help to further my career. I have always said that I had accomplished everything I wanted to do when I left the field of education. But then it hit me...why do we strive so much for our own accomplishments?

I posted a few days ago about how we accomplish something only to forget about it a short time later (it doesn't take others nearly as long to forget our accomplishments!). If we so easily forget what we done, it begs this question - What types of accomplishments last a lifetime? Is it really important to accomplish anything?

Too much of my life has been focused on me. What things can I do; what things can I experience; what things can I accomplish...When the focus is directed towards God and not towards self, everything changes. I am slowly starting to figure that out.

I think Jesus summed it up best in John:

"I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me." John 6:38 (MsgB)

Mission accomplished.

The Versus Game

I've posted quite a bit lately on how Meadow Heights Church is working through many systems and processes. I've also noticed that several key leaders of other churches have posted about similar things as well. A key thought we've ingested at the staff level is that we have to continue to replicate ourselves. In other words, work our way out of our job so that we can truly focus on leading others. Systems and processes will help us achieve that goal.

Craig Groeschel has a great post on "Don't Do It All." He's titled this as part one of a five part series. I'm anxious to see how the rest of his posts develop. This is an issue that many leaders (and I'll put myself smack dab in the middle of this one) struggle with. Many leaders I know are very driven people. That's one of the characteristics that make them a great leader. But it can also be the downfall of a great leader if their focus is in the wrong area.

Most of the time it becomes a versus. God vs. Family vs. Work. Who will win? It depends on the day, or the time, or the situation. I'm going to say something very bold - most leaders fail to put their priorities in the right place. I am one of those leaders. God has impressed upon me a great deal lately that I have to be the one to initiate change in this area of my life. Only I can't figure out how to do that very well. I'm continuing to play the versus game even when I don't want to.

I talked with someone the other day that said something I really relate with. He said this, "Even when I try to disengage from work, I find myself thinking about work. When I'm at home with my family, my mind is really back at the office." While I have overcome much of this mental battle, I can truly relate to this "versus" in my life.

I would welcome any comments from those of you who struggle or have struggled with the "versus game." Does the game ever end?

A Life Worth Living

My youngest, Emilee, turned four on Saturday. We had a great time hanging out, had some cake, presents, etc. Then we went for lunch and finally ended up at the bowling alley. It was Emilee's first time to bowl and she had a blast! Many times I take for granted all of the wonderful experiences I have had, and I simply forget that my kids have not experienced some of the basics of life. Bowling is only one example. Last spring I flew a kite with my son. He had never flown a kite before.

I wonder if many of us who would claim to follow Jesus take our experiences with Him for granted. Have we forgotten what that feels like? Is that why we forget that others haven't had the same incredible life changing relationship that we have experienced? Has anyone else got caught up in the "I'm only looking out for me" so let me do everything I can to get my "own" experience moment? We do everything we can to "accomplish" something, only to forget about it within a few moments of our achievement.

Has God become that forgotten achievement in your own life? Has it been relegated to an event that happened rather than a relationship that happens? And what does that matter if we don't help others find that same joy? You've heard the expression that "he who dies with the most toys wins." What if we lived life by a different mantra..."he who dies after sharing the most toys wins?" A trite saying? Perhaps. A life worth living? That's for you to decide.

Hurry Up and Wait

I've not posted in awhile. And on purpose.

Do you ever feel like you're in a funk? I'm not sure what God's up to, but I'm praying He hurries up with me. Can I pray that? That might explain the funk.

We have a two-story house with heating units in both the upstairs and downstairs. Our bottom unit went out Saturday. The repair guy tells me I need a new part - a $200 part. YIKES. Can you say "wreck the budget?" But you can't go without heat, right? Especially when it's 20 degrees outside.

But, as a wise friend once told me, "winners find solutions, losers make excuses" so I'm fighting my way out of the pity party. But God, if you're listening...can you please hurry me up? Thanks.

A Good Example of BAD Customer Service

Our satellite internet has been slowly degrading in quality over the past few months (we live in a rural setting and don't have any other means available). After many phone calls, the satellite company agreed to send someone out to take a look.

PROBLEM #1 - Subcontractors don't always have the same values as the company that hired them.

The technician was supposed to arrive last Thursday. He didn't - and he didn't call. Friday, someone called that didn't know much about our issue and claimed he would come next week. He came on Monday - our main tech guy is off on Mondays.

PROBLEM #2 - Don't say you're going to be somewhere at a specific time and on a specific date and then not show up. It's not professional. Refer to problem #1.

The guy looked at our satellite and determined that we need a new "radio" part. He doesn't let us know that he won't be able to re-establish any type of service when he makes his diagnosis. HENCE, our entire satellite goes down.

PROBLEM #3 - If you're going to make something worse than it already was without a backup plan, let someone know before you do it. Refer to problem #1.

After "demolishing" our satellite, the tech put our part on order. Little did he know that the part is on backorder - no apparent arrival date in sight.

PROBLEM #4 - Don't order something and tell the customer you'll get it fixed right away if you haven't checked whether or not the part is actually available. Refer to problem #1.

The subcontractor was actually contracted by another subcontractor who won't return our phone calls.

PROBLEM #5 - If you have a business, answer the stinkin' phones!! If not, customers will stop calling - that means you won't have any more customers. Refer to problem #1.

After an hour on the phone with the satellite company, they don't have any solution. They do not have any "radio" parts anywhere. If I want to know when they might be in, I'll have to call the distributor myself. Oh yeah...I had to work for an hour to get to someone who could make a decision to help me TODAY. It's hard to make a rational point to someone who is simply reading a script and won't vary from it.

PROBLEM #6 - Don't ask your customers to do your work. If you promise a particular service, then provide it. Don't shirk your responsibilities.

I end up calling the distributor. They can't tell me any information because I'm not a wholesaler, even though that's what the satellite company told me to do. After much prodding, they finally tell me that some parts are in, but are already being filtered out and they are expecting more - sometime in the future.

PROBLEM #7 - If many people are experiencing the same problem with the same part, it just might be defective. Fix the part or order more of it just in case. Economics 101.

The distributor told me to call the subcontractor again. I did. The subcontractor doesn't have any idea when they'll get the part. They were told by the distributor that they don't really know that information anyway.

PROBLEM #8 - Passing the buck is a dangerous tactic. If you can't answer the customer's question, find someone who can. Don't pass it off on someone else.

The distributor then assigned a tech to come to our church on Friday - just in case. They probably won't have the part, but they scheduled one anyway.

PROBLEM #9 - If you can't do anything productive, doing something stupid does not make up for it. THINK PEOPLE, THINK!

After several hours, we are still no closer to any type of solution. The satellite company did tell us that we could have a dial up account until the problem is resolved. Oh yeah. That one line on dial up will work well for 10 people. And at those blazing speeds!! YIKES!

PROBLEM #10 - If you have any other option besides satellite internet, GO FOR IT! (And hopefully they will speak English)

On A Wing and a Prayer

A great new resource for churches that use video clips in church. It's called WingClips, and allows the user to download medium or high resolution videos. You can search by theme, and all clips are available for download in quicktime or windows media format.

Rob Bell In England

One of my favorite authors and speakers, Rob Bell, recently completed a tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland. You can read more about his trip here.

There is also a fascinating video interview with Premier.tv that you can watch here.

Gone But Not Forgotten

A good friend of mine, Steve Marchbank, had this thought on his blog today:

Isn’t it amazing how we go through life, and make connections and form relationships, and then time goes on, things change and people and paths diverge, and those thoughts/feelings/memories are sort of ‘stored’ – not forgotten – until at some point in the future, it may (or may not) be referenced or called upon?

Steve and I went to college together and had some great times playing jazz there as well. Then we both ended up in Columbia, MO where we continued to gig on a regular basis (remember good ole' CC's Broiler?). Steve is not only a phenomenal jazz guitarist, but a gifted pediatric physician as well.

Needless to say, Steve and I lost touch for the past few years until a few weeks ago when we reconnected. During that time, both of our lives changed in very significant ways. His insights above really struck my heart tonight. What paths will we cross today that God may bring back tomorrow?

The Leadership Challenge

A phenomenal post today by Gary Lamb. He describes the transition he and his church (Ridge Stone Church) have been going through as they continue to grow. He specifically mentions the leadership transition that happened as their church grew from 500-700 people which is EXACTLY where Meadow Heights Church finds itself today.

We are also in the middle of much transition, mostly in terms of systems and processes, but along with that comes structure and organization as well. Our lead pastor, Bryan, is also working through the "leadership challenge" or as we have fondly come to know it as the "3 month leadership experiment." I am pumped about nailing some of these things down (although I don't enjoy the process to get there!) and know that we are doing exactly what God is asking us to do.

There are some exciting changes upcoming - stay tuned for future updates!

A LONG Weekend

It was a great weekend - but a LONG one. We launched our fifth gathering @ Meadow Heights Church this weekend (you can now worship at 5:30 and 7:15pm on Saturday or 8:00, 9:30 or 11:15am on Sunday) which was new territory for us. We had a great response, with nearly 200 people joining us in our auditorium on Saturday alone. PLUS over 60 of our students and their leaders were away at the Clarity Conference in Nashville! Sunday also filled up, and I fully expect we will break the 700 mark very soon and never look back.

It was also my first time to teach on a five gathering weekend. It really wasn't that much different than teaching four times, but your mind does start to wander a bit by the last time through the message. Overall though, I was digging every second - I HAD A BLAST!!

And finally, it's official. My daughter is now in Orlando, Florida! She will arrive at Disney World tomorrow for her official "check in" and assignments (apartment, job, etc.). I know she is excited, but I could also tell today that she was a bit nervous on the inside. She is so much like me that it scares me sometimes. She keeps her emotions so close to her - always afraid to let people know how she's feeling. The same goes for me, although God is really challenging me in that area. I'm just not sure how to really open up yet.

It was a very tough goodbye for some reason this time. We had already gone through the "mourning" stage when she left for college, but having her home for an extra month or so this time only added to the sadness when we said our goodbyes. My wife Melissa held it together very well, but by the time we got back to the car, the entire family was in tears. I know this is an incredible opportunity for our daughter, but it is always hard to say goodbye.

I will close (with a very tired brain!) tonight by giving God thanks for helping us overcome this storm in our life. It has been a very tense and draining week for many reasons, but God is always faithful, He is always with us, and He will always help us through our storms. I thank Him from the bottom of my heart - my family would never have made it without our faith in Him. Here's to the next storm!

Blogger Survey Results

Saddleback Church recently conducted a "Christian Blogger Survey" solicited from bloggers all across America. Mark Kelly, the news and editorial director for Saddleback and Purpose Driven ministries has compiled the results. Along with a few "notable names" you'll also find this blog. Yep, that's right! Scroll down about a third of the way through and you'll find me (along with hundreds of other blogs)! Thanks to Mark and the Saddleback staff for putting together this list.

You can find the results at Mark's blog referenced above, or this Rick Warren blog site.

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!!