Lincoln, a Beaver, and a Guy Who Can't Sleep

Have you seen these commercials for the latest, and greatest sleep aide? They are pretty creative... their billboard, magazine and TV ads have created quite a buzz on the net. You can check out the TV commercial here. Still not quite sure I get the whole Abe Lincoln, beaver and even the astronaut thing, I mean what's the deal with these characters?

What do you think?

Peace.

Song of the Week: Don't Look Back

I led worship this week for the last time at Naperville Christian Church. We had a great time and the music was some of our best ever (if I do say so myself). The team I had with me did a fantastic job.

This week's song, Don't Look Back by Boston played on the radio as I was driving home after the services and it just seemed really appropriate. Check out some of the lyrics (from the 2nd verse):

It's a new horizon and I'm awakin' now
Oh I see myself in a brand new way
The sun is shinin', the clouds are breakin'
'Cause I can't lose now, there's no game to play

I can tell, there's no more time left to criticize
I've seen what I could not recognize
Everthing in my life was leading me on, I can be strong

I finally see the dawn arrivin'
I see beyond the road I'm drivin
'Far away and left behind

My parents use to listen to Boston and I've listened to their tunes many times in the past. Anyway, you can check out a clip of the song here.

Peace.

The Journey

I've decided to focus this blog for a while on my journey, to tell a little bit of my story while keeping perspective of where I am now. Really just for me to get out of my head a little... to put down on paper where I'm at during this leg of the trip.

This last Sunday, September 24th, I had the opportunity to lead worship one last time at the church I've been at for the last 23 months. As I look back on this seemingly short time, I am amazed at the things that God accomplished in me. I have also seen an incredible amount of growth in the team that has lead with me during this season. What a gifted and talented group of musicians and vocalists! I have been playing music in bands and groups since I was in highschool and to this date have not played with a team quite as talented as this one. Individually they each have incredible gifts but I think together we have transformed into something greater than we could have been on our own. To them, thank you for sharing your journey with me!

I'll give you a little more later about the process God has taken me through. This week, I'm tying up any loose ends and just making myself available as a resource to those who will stay behind. And though this weekend was kind of bitter-sweet, my family and I look forward to what God is going to do next, as each stage becomes more challenging, more focused, and more fulfilling.

Peace.

Innovative Part Too

Day two for Scott Hodge and I at the Innovative Church Conference...

I think we got a little bit more sleep last night than the previous one :) It's been a lot of fun and have had a great time hanging out with Scott. More after some coffee.

Peace.

Innovative Church Conference

Made it to the Innovative Church conference this morning at Granger Community Church in Indiana (when I say this morning, I mean like 2am and then stayed up goofin'' around until almost 5am). The second half of the first session was good :)

So far the day has been awesome! It has been great to get revitalized and re-energized from a creativity and leadership standpoint. For a while now, I have been in a non-creative, just swim-in-the-fishbowl mode with the transition and changes happening at the church I'm at. I am anxious and excited to be pumping up for the next phase of the adventure!

Peace.

Just Say No

Heard this last night at the end of the local NBC news...

Why is it that only foods that are supposed to be good for you are the ones that make you sick? You never hear about E.Coli warnings on Snickers Bars or Twinkies :)

Just say "no" to bag spinach... sorry Popeye!

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/15/us/15spinach.html

Peace.

9/11

September 11, 2001.

Do you remember where you were, what you were doing on this day in our history?

My brother Keith and his family had just flown in the night before to visit us in North Carolina. We had just moved there a few weeks earlier to begin working with a new church plant in Mooresville. We were getting ready to go out to breakfast together, but our wives were having a great time talking :) so my brother and I turned on the TV with plans to get in a Playstation game or two. We weren't sure what was going on at first - just that a plane had flown into the North World Trade Center tower. We continued to watch as a few moments later we saw the second plane hit the South tower. We watched until the towers fell. It was a very surreal experience and all that day seems very fuzzy after that.

Today marks 5 years since this act of terror on our country. So many lives lost. Most of us will never forget where we were that day. Please share your name, where you're from and your short story about 9/11/2001 with us today.

Peace.

The Croc Hunter No More

My family and I were pretty shocked tonight to hear that Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter, died today in Australia during a film shoot. He was killed by a sting from a stingray, though they are not usually fatal. Apparently The Croc Hunter was too close to a stingray that struck him with a poison barb (found on their tail) that went between his ribs and pierced him directly in his heart. The odds of this happening seem pretty staggering.

My kids really enjoyed Steve and his shows... I know he will be missed by many. We talked about and prayed for his kids who are only 8 and 3. Life is short and you never know when your time on earth will be up. This guy swam with all kinds of creatures, caught and got up close to the most poisonous snakes and critters in the world, and he dies from something that is not supposed to be life-threatening. I've been thinking about some things since we heard about Steve's untimely death:

1. Don't be afraid to risk doing what you have a passion for. Doing what you love may come with risks, but so does driving your car (or motorcycle).
2. Live everyday on purpose... you never know when it may be your last.
3. When you are passionate about what you do, everyone knows it.

It's funny how people think that taking risks in life to seize moments of great opportunity is too dangerous... What if I fail? What if I get hurt? What if I mess up? If everyday could be our last, shouldn't we be willing to go above and beyond to live each one to its fullest?

Here's a link to the news story about Steve.

Peace.

I Like Pizza

It's pretty cool when you're kids start developing their gifts and talents. You always hope that they will follow in your footsteps and take interest in something that you enjoy as well. Both my oldest girls seem to be natural musicians and I couldn't be prouder (not because they are budding artists but because they are my daughters, of course :)

Faith has decided to continue in piano and is doing quite well. After a year of taking piano lessons, Kylee has started playing guitar. Both are taking lessons from some excellent teachers at the Fox River Academy of Music and Art. Since she just started, our family and everyone who will listen have been serenaded by Kylee's rendition of "I Like Pizza". It's a lovely three note tune that you just can't seem to hear enough of (thanks Ron!). If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend requesting this little diddy. I'm sure some day I'll actually miss it. Time just flies, doesn't it? For now, I'll enjoy "I Like Pizza" as only a proud father of a new guitarist can.

Peace.

Skate or Die!

So this morning, I went with my son to see him do a drop in on a mini-ramp, hit the flats and do a ghost-ollie, then tail manual into a funbox and then dogtown down a hill! It was totally jammin!

He's learning to ride a skateboard and apparently you can take classes on this stuff now. Never had anything like that when I was a kid, of course we never wore helmets, wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow pads either. What's funny is my son says he wants to be a skater when he grows up, apparently as a career... I don't know really how to respond to that :)

He's shreddin' pretty well though and I can already tell we have a mini Tony Hawk in the making! Skate on Seth!

Peace.