Breaking the Silence

New Year. New Post... Really!

No this blog is not dead. Just neglected it a bit. I see it everyday and know that it's there but so much has happened over the last several months.

I actually started feeling a little overwhelmed...haven't posted in a while, what should I write about? It has to be something good to bring people back to reading it (though I am honored that many of you have continued to be faithful).

As a start, I wanted to share some pics from our Christmas Eve services at the Orchard (courtesy of Jen Cresse).

Enjoy!

Senator Barack Obama Elected President

I watched the results stream in tonight between the internet and the television. I watched as Obama gained the popular and electoral votes needed to claim the white house.

I also listened to McCain's concession speech... some powerful words were spoken. I think he acknowledged his feelings, quelled booing and shouts of disapproval of Obama, and spoke of unity and support for the president elect.

You may agree or disagree with Barack Obama, and I won't share my feelings either way. However, I am excited at the history that has been made tonight in this election. This country has come a long way, and we still have a long way to go, but this history making event has opened doors for conversation and empowerment.

I pray that Barack is able to uphold his promises and that this country is made better through his presidency.

Music Setlist 11.01.08 and 11.02.08

Here's our music setlist from that weekend (with links to purchase the original recordings from the artists listed):
Beat It - Fall Out Boy
Happy Day - Kristian Stanfill
Great In All The Earth - Starfield
Saving Grace - Planetshakers
Call Me When You're Sober - Evanescence
I Surrender - Kim Walker

Props to my team... you guys totally rocked the house! Joni, Taylor and Amanda - you three did phenomenal on vocals this weekend!

Tagged!

Ok... so I've been tagged by multiple family members (thanks Keith and Kristen) so here goes.

Here are the rules:

1. Post these rules on your blog
2. Write 6 random things about yourself.
3. Tag 6 people at the end of you post (I’m making this optional to relieve any guilt, including my own for continuing this).
4. If you get tagged, DO IT and pass on the tag.
5. [Rule 5 was deleted because the author of this blog considered it lame :)]

Here's my six things randomly selected for your reading enjoyment:

1. If I lived alone or my family would let me, my house would be 68 degrees in the summer and 62 degrees in the winter. I love the cold and am most comfortable when it's cooler.
2. I love chocolate pudding. No I mean I LOVE chocolate pudding. My wife graciously makes me a giant bowl of home-made chocolate pudding for me on my birthday.
3. I have lived in at least 14 different houses in 7 different states. My current house marks the longest I've lived in any one house.
4. My hair use to be one-length down to my belly-button. Now I have it shaved off every week.
5. I have within the last year listened to more books on CD than I have read in the same year. My mind wonders like crazy when I try to read so it takes me a long time to get through a book.
6. Went to college to become a sound engineer, ended up going into music education, then into electrical engineering, computer science and finally graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology. I have the classes and equivalence for three additional AA degrees in the previous subjects.

That's it for me! Wow... took me forever to post these. I'm not tagging anyone and everyone at the same time :)

What's a random thing that most people don't know about you?

Birthday Wishes 4 Todd

I'm not one of those people who celebrates year after year the birthday of those who have passed on, but this year I'm going to.

This picture is from last year. Todd loved birthdays. He loved just having fun period. He was just that kind of guy.

Today, he would be 43.

We usually tried to go out on or around each other's birthdays - though we were better about going out to celebrate our wives special days than our own. It was always a good time!

So, though I'm sad that he is not here - I still wish a great day for him and his wonderful family. A day to remember all the good things.

Really miss you big guy. Can't wait to see you again!

What's Up Doc?

Today was go-visit-the-doctor-so-he-can-poke-and-probe-you day.

Don't like going, but promised my wife I would.

He said I was a buff, healthy dude that was much more physically fit than most men my age.

Ok, so that may not be exactly what he said but at least it appears that I'm healthy overall. So now I can begin training for the 5k in Chicago.

I'm particularly mindful today of the importance of having a regular checkup. I hate it but preventative maintenance can save a life.

So, go. Today. Now. Make an appointment and go.

The Great 8!

This last week, as some of you read via twitter, I was in Atlanta at a conference called Catalyst. Had a great time but missed my family. Came home late Friday night (early Saturday morning) and was exhausted.

Very little sleep.

I promised Seth I'd take him to a movie and to lunch on his birthday. I was going to be spending most of the day getting ready for our Saturday evening service, but I thought it was important to celebrate my son's life. We saw a movie we had already seen (which he enjoyed anyway because he LOVES movie popcorn and being with the fam).

Can't believe this dude is 8 years old! Seems like it was just yesterday - isn't that what we always say? But it does... time is flying. He's a pretty cool guy and I enjoy hanging out with him. He's at that age where it's still cool to hang out with dad.

Hope that doesn't end anytime. I think I need him as much as he needs me.
Happy Birthday Seth!

Music Setlist 09.20.08 and 09.21.08

One of the guys on staff with me and a good friend for many years, Chris Bell spoke this weekend on what the Orchard is becoming. He used Psalm 1 to talk about the Orchard in comparison to a real orchard. This was Chris' last time speaking at the Orchard as part of the staff and I pray blessings for him and his family as they continue to lead, but now in a church in VA.

Here's our music setlist from that weekend (with links to purchase the original recordings from the artists listed):
La Grange - ZZ Top (instrumental)
Your Grace Is Enough - Chris Tomlin
Hosanna - Hillsong United
You Are The One - Lincoln Brewster
Point of Difference - Hillsong United
All Because of Jesus - Fee

INNOVATE08 - Innovate Impact

Steven Furtick up on the mic next...

Relating the story of David being anointed as king to leaders who feel like they are being overlooked by God.

You are called by God

It always starts small.
Jesus using a small amount of fish to feed thousands.

Has time talked you out of your dreams?

Hold on to the audacity to fulfill God's promises.

Sometimes the process is the point.

INNOVATE08 - Lifechurch.tv Lessons

Lessons from Lifechurch.tv's DLT:

An organization is the reflection of its leadership.
A team is a reflection of it's leader. A vision/mission oriented leader creates a very vision/mission oriented team, which is good but also need to be self aware of the things you miss. Take time to celebrate. If there is a character trait in a leader that is a negative, that too will be reflected in a team. Know what you're good at and what you're not good at.

"We'll do anything short of sin to lead people to Christ."

Everyone has a unique personality and there are ways for us to integrate and playoff of each others strengths and weaknesses. Self awareness of this issue helps to develop a good team.

Willingness to "get naked"
More on self awareness... really understanding who God has called you to be as a church and sticking to it even when others try to tell you otherwise. Trust that God is going to do big things through your faithfulness.

[My thoughts: Be real with who you really are... seems to be a consistent theme thru the conference though it's not the topic. I think that's cool that even within the scope of "Stop Talking, Start Doing" that this sub-theme has emerged. Very pertinent to those who come to conferences and then think they are going to go home and do exactly what they saw done.]

The difference between where you are and where God wants you to be is the pain you're unwilling to endure.
Sometimes it's easy to keep doing what you are doing or to not change but change is difficult and many times painful. It's difficult when the decisions you make impacts families and others, especially when the decision is a mistake, but you can't be afraid to step forward and be willing to make mistakes [and then willing to admit when you've made a mistake]. The impact on lives is also true when it is not a mistake - there is also an impact.

God will not give you more as a leader until you obey what he's already asked you to do. Our capacity as leaders will be found in our ability to endure pain. What decision is God calling you to make? IS there a decision God has asked us to make that we have avoided?