My Friend received a e-mail story that made him literally cry,
and now he is forwarding the e-mail to everyone he knows.
I read it for myself and something didn't sound right.
Checked it out on Snopes.com and few other fact checking sites
and discovered it is a completely false story.
What should I do?
A. Tell the guy and make him feel stupid and gullible
B. Simply send him the link to Snopes
C. Do Nothing
D. Get someone else to tell him
What would you do?
40 Small (and Big) Ways You Can Show Mercy to Your Neighbor in Orange County
Our Parable Series at Calvary will land on the Parable of the Good Samaritan in April.
As part of this Sunday, we are going to give our Church a "Mercy Challenge."
People will be asked to take something from the following list and go do it as a way to show mercy to a local neighbor. So far I have come up with 40 mercy challenges. I need 50. Can you help me with a few more suggestions?
Here is the list so far:
1. Wash a Neighbor’s Car
2. Bring a Dessert to a Neighbor
3. Bring Cookies to a Local Firehouse
4. Buy a Cup of Coffee for a person behind you in line at a Coffee Shop
5. Call an elderly relative/friend
6. Write an encouraging note to a Calvary Pastor
7. Drop off a food/clothing donation at the Orange County Rescue Mission:
8. Drop off diapers (newborn to 3 months) to Crisis PregnancyClinic in Santa Ana
9. Write a note of thanks to your local city Police Chief or Mayor
10. Find stuff in your house you’re not using or wearing and donate it to the Sheepfold Thrift Store
11. Pick up trash in your neighborhood…
12. Be friendly in public–practice saying hello to everyone you pass throughout your day
13. Rake your neighbors leaves
14. Offer to Clean the Calvary Church Worship Center sometime this week
15. Ask a Gas Station Manager if you can clean the gas station restroom for free
16. Push all the shopping carts in a store parking lot back to the store.
17. Spend an evening at a local laundry and bring a bag of quarters to pay for people’s wash and dry.
18. Forgive some who might have wronged you in the past. Go out of your way to do them a favor.
19. Buy Lunch for a Custodian or Service Worker at your Job
20. Take Flowers to a Retirement Home and ask the Staff to Give these to a Person who never receives visitors
21. Next time you get fast food, buy the person’s order behind you as well (works best at the drive-thru!)
22. In the coming week, spend a total of ninety minutes praying for a neighbor.
23. Drop off Donuts or Coffee one morning to day laborers at a Local Paint Store parking lot
24. Ask a grocery store or retail store cashier one way you can pray for them this week
25. Take a Senior Citizen out to a lunch
26. Help someone put their groceries in the car in a grocery store parking lot (obviously, ask permission first)
27. For the rest of this month, Let someone go in front of you at the checkout line or in traffic each time you visit a store or drive on the freeway
28. Take one of our blue Bibles in the Worship Center chair racks and give it away to someone you meet
29. Offer to wash the windows of a neighbor
30. Engage someone in conversation you normally do not make time for (ie, the gym attendant, a custodian at work, retail cashier, etc.)
31. Go buy flowers, go to Fairhaven Memorial Park or a nearby cemetary on a weekend and give the flowers to a stranger you see visiting the gravesite of a loved one
32. Write a letter of encouragement to someone in our Church who is struggling with Cancer.
33. Go to the U-Haul Truck Rental Center in Tustin and offer to help someone move for a few hours
34. Collect some semi-current magazines and deliver them to a local nursing home
35. Donate an unopened bottle of water and a bottle of sunscreen to a school crossing guard in your neighborhood
36. Pick-up a CD of a Calvary Church sermon from the Church bookstore and give it away to someone who works on Sundays.
37. Bring Flowers and a thank you card to the School Office of your neighborhood elementary school
38. Take your loose change and go to a discount store and buy toiletry items for the pantry of the Mercy House.
39. Buy Movie Tickets and give them to a single Mom and her children
40. Spend 30 minutes 3x this week prayer walking your neighborhood
As part of this Sunday, we are going to give our Church a "Mercy Challenge."
People will be asked to take something from the following list and go do it as a way to show mercy to a local neighbor. So far I have come up with 40 mercy challenges. I need 50. Can you help me with a few more suggestions?
Here is the list so far:
1. Wash a Neighbor’s Car
2. Bring a Dessert to a Neighbor
3. Bring Cookies to a Local Firehouse
4. Buy a Cup of Coffee for a person behind you in line at a Coffee Shop
5. Call an elderly relative/friend
6. Write an encouraging note to a Calvary Pastor
7. Drop off a food/clothing donation at the Orange County Rescue Mission:
8. Drop off diapers (newborn to 3 months) to Crisis PregnancyClinic in Santa Ana
9. Write a note of thanks to your local city Police Chief or Mayor
10. Find stuff in your house you’re not using or wearing and donate it to the Sheepfold Thrift Store
11. Pick up trash in your neighborhood…
12. Be friendly in public–practice saying hello to everyone you pass throughout your day
13. Rake your neighbors leaves
14. Offer to Clean the Calvary Church Worship Center sometime this week
15. Ask a Gas Station Manager if you can clean the gas station restroom for free
16. Push all the shopping carts in a store parking lot back to the store.
17. Spend an evening at a local laundry and bring a bag of quarters to pay for people’s wash and dry.
18. Forgive some who might have wronged you in the past. Go out of your way to do them a favor.
19. Buy Lunch for a Custodian or Service Worker at your Job
20. Take Flowers to a Retirement Home and ask the Staff to Give these to a Person who never receives visitors
21. Next time you get fast food, buy the person’s order behind you as well (works best at the drive-thru!)
22. In the coming week, spend a total of ninety minutes praying for a neighbor.
23. Drop off Donuts or Coffee one morning to day laborers at a Local Paint Store parking lot
24. Ask a grocery store or retail store cashier one way you can pray for them this week
25. Take a Senior Citizen out to a lunch
26. Help someone put their groceries in the car in a grocery store parking lot (obviously, ask permission first)
27. For the rest of this month, Let someone go in front of you at the checkout line or in traffic each time you visit a store or drive on the freeway
28. Take one of our blue Bibles in the Worship Center chair racks and give it away to someone you meet
29. Offer to wash the windows of a neighbor
30. Engage someone in conversation you normally do not make time for (ie, the gym attendant, a custodian at work, retail cashier, etc.)
31. Go buy flowers, go to Fairhaven Memorial Park or a nearby cemetary on a weekend and give the flowers to a stranger you see visiting the gravesite of a loved one
32. Write a letter of encouragement to someone in our Church who is struggling with Cancer.
33. Go to the U-Haul Truck Rental Center in Tustin and offer to help someone move for a few hours
34. Collect some semi-current magazines and deliver them to a local nursing home
35. Donate an unopened bottle of water and a bottle of sunscreen to a school crossing guard in your neighborhood
36. Pick-up a CD of a Calvary Church sermon from the Church bookstore and give it away to someone who works on Sundays.
37. Bring Flowers and a thank you card to the School Office of your neighborhood elementary school
38. Take your loose change and go to a discount store and buy toiletry items for the pantry of the Mercy House.
39. Buy Movie Tickets and give them to a single Mom and her children
40. Spend 30 minutes 3x this week prayer walking your neighborhood
Tim Tebow
How many players have a plaque on their college campus while they are still in college?
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Tebow is a legend in Florida. The exciting thing is, he seems to be a serious follower of Jesus as well. He just spent his Spring Break in the Philippines serving on a Missions Trip.
Here is the plaque recently made based on Tebow's famous post-game speech from last season:
It's from 1989 and shows, but I like it
I found this here.
It is from a bulletin cover from 1989
from Covenant Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas.
Thoughts from the Wife
This is a post written by my wife Marie from a blog we share with our family.
"But... in other news... I just have to report some ground breaking info on this little guy....
That's right folks, Samuel has struck independence! (Babysitting notice to anyone who might possibly watch him... )It all started the other day when I thought the kids were taking naps. I heard some stirring in Samuel's room but was putting something in the oven. I started walking to his room and see the door handle turning, and out like Superman busting out of his clothes came Samuel running down the hall?!?! WHAT? I heard no thump, there was no signs of any fall, and started looking for the intruder who let him out of his crib. But Samuel's grin explained it all. That's right... if you can't get to him... no problem... he will come to you?!?!!? Oh my goodness... he is too much!
Matthew's first question was, "Do they sell lids for cribs?" Lily fell out of her crib at 18 months and never attempted it again. I think it was actually a mistake of her leaning too far over the railing. But this little guy doesn't let anything stop him. After yesterday, we are almost sure his next move is to push the chair to get the keys to let himself outside. Seriously... who knows what he has planned? We are just wondering when we will wake up in the middle of the night and find him out in the family room eating chips watching Elmo all by himself. One thing you gotta admitt - He is a very capable little guy!!!
But we have repeatedly come to a point in conversation when we ask her if she would like to ask Jesus to be her Savior and she has repeatedly said "No thank you." (You got to love her honesty ...and politeness.)
Then earlier this week, I asked her to pick something up in her room and she quietly said to her imaginary friend Lisa, "I wish she would die." I asked her what she said and she told me that she told Lisa she wished I would die. I actually almost started laughing, but held it together. That was the last thing I thought she would say. I told her I was sad she wanted me to die, but that I would be very happy to die - because then I could be with Jesus in heaven. I told her I would be sad that she wouldn't have a mommy anymore. She instantly started crying and couldn't stop. "I don't want you to die. Don't die..." and on and on she went. So she has been telling me not to die like every five minutes since then.
But just tonight she said that she wanted to ask Jesus in her heart so that when she dies she could be in heaven too. Then Matthew started to talk to her about it and she just interupted him and prayed the most special awesome little prayer asking Jesus to be her sacrifice (?!?) and wanted to know if he would come in her heart to get to know her so that she could go to heaven and a few other little words that just trailed away that we couldn't hear! It was so precious!!! Is there a more perfect word than precious for this? Pray that Jesus would be more and more real to her!!!!!
"But... in other news... I just have to report some ground breaking info on this little guy....
Sweet as can be...precious as pie...and crafty smart as I have NEVER seen...Matthew said yesterday, "You know that time in your life when you realize that you are as big as your parents? You know... like when you are 17 and driving in your own car ...doing your own thing... free and independent just like you always dreamed? I think Samuel hit that today..."
That's right folks, Samuel has struck independence! (Babysitting notice to anyone who might possibly watch him... )It all started the other day when I thought the kids were taking naps. I heard some stirring in Samuel's room but was putting something in the oven. I started walking to his room and see the door handle turning, and out like Superman busting out of his clothes came Samuel running down the hall?!?! WHAT? I heard no thump, there was no signs of any fall, and started looking for the intruder who let him out of his crib. But Samuel's grin explained it all. That's right... if you can't get to him... no problem... he will come to you?!?!!? Oh my goodness... he is too much!
Matthew's first question was, "Do they sell lids for cribs?" Lily fell out of her crib at 18 months and never attempted it again. I think it was actually a mistake of her leaning too far over the railing. But this little guy doesn't let anything stop him. After yesterday, we are almost sure his next move is to push the chair to get the keys to let himself outside. Seriously... who knows what he has planned? We are just wondering when we will wake up in the middle of the night and find him out in the family room eating chips watching Elmo all by himself. One thing you gotta admitt - He is a very capable little guy!!!
Then there is the most precious and "heartwarming in an eternal sort of way" update on Lily.
We have been talking so much about getting to know Jesus. She watches me read the bible on the mornings I don't wake up early and recently asked me why I am reading the bible. I told her that's how I hear God talking to me. She came out with her little bible next to her ear. (Ahhhh.... I melted.)
But we have repeatedly come to a point in conversation when we ask her if she would like to ask Jesus to be her Savior and she has repeatedly said "No thank you." (You got to love her honesty ...and politeness.)
Then earlier this week, I asked her to pick something up in her room and she quietly said to her imaginary friend Lisa, "I wish she would die." I asked her what she said and she told me that she told Lisa she wished I would die. I actually almost started laughing, but held it together. That was the last thing I thought she would say. I told her I was sad she wanted me to die, but that I would be very happy to die - because then I could be with Jesus in heaven. I told her I would be sad that she wouldn't have a mommy anymore. She instantly started crying and couldn't stop. "I don't want you to die. Don't die..." and on and on she went. So she has been telling me not to die like every five minutes since then.
But just tonight she said that she wanted to ask Jesus in her heart so that when she dies she could be in heaven too. Then Matthew started to talk to her about it and she just interupted him and prayed the most special awesome little prayer asking Jesus to be her sacrifice (?!?) and wanted to know if he would come in her heart to get to know her so that she could go to heaven and a few other little words that just trailed away that we couldn't hear! It was so precious!!! Is there a more perfect word than precious for this? Pray that Jesus would be more and more real to her!!!!!
An Atheist, A Pastor and a High School Student Walk Into a Bar on Saint Paddy's Day
No this is not the punchline to a joke, this is my life!
Except, replace "bar" with the word Starbucks.
Yesterday, I sat down for coffee with a high school student who is job shadowing me this week at Church and an Atheist to discuss simple, light-hearted topics such as the origins of the Universe and the validity of miracles.
How did this happen?
About a month ago, a stranger randomly e-mailed me and offered to speak to any group at our Church, representing himself as an Atheist. His goal is to create some good PR for his "team," hoping Christians will see that a person can be an Atheist and be a moral, nice, civil person. I was intrigued by his proposal, so decided to meet up with him yesterday for coffee. It just so happened the high school student job shadowing me was hanging out with me today, so the 3 of us sat at a corner coffee table all afternoon and chatted about deep, heavy, big things. And you know what?...
I loved it!
I love talking about God with skeptics. I love trying to listen to them and hear their point of view. I love sharing the Bible with people who see no value in it and trying to show them why this book is so precious and life transforming for me.
For the most part, the conversation remained civil and respectful...When it got a little sideways, was when the Atheist would say, "all you Christians, say this...or all you Christians believe this..."
It is hard to argue or reason or feel heard when someone already believes they know exactly what you think and believe, before they even ask you.
But these moments were minor in the conversation and overall, it was a fascinating time.
I Am Completely Convinced
I really believe with all my heart that God is real and Jesus is God and the only way to Heaven. I don't feel threatened by someone who doesn't believe this. What I do feel is a longing, a wish, that they would see Jesus as I do. I have come to realize that my carefully crafted words, my creative analogies and my kindness and compassion can remove barriers people have to following Jesus. But ultimately, I have also come to realize that it is God and God alone, who does the wooing, the calling, the saving work in a person's life.
Except, replace "bar" with the word Starbucks.
Yesterday, I sat down for coffee with a high school student who is job shadowing me this week at Church and an Atheist to discuss simple, light-hearted topics such as the origins of the Universe and the validity of miracles.
How did this happen?
About a month ago, a stranger randomly e-mailed me and offered to speak to any group at our Church, representing himself as an Atheist. His goal is to create some good PR for his "team," hoping Christians will see that a person can be an Atheist and be a moral, nice, civil person. I was intrigued by his proposal, so decided to meet up with him yesterday for coffee. It just so happened the high school student job shadowing me was hanging out with me today, so the 3 of us sat at a corner coffee table all afternoon and chatted about deep, heavy, big things. And you know what?...
I loved it!
I love talking about God with skeptics. I love trying to listen to them and hear their point of view. I love sharing the Bible with people who see no value in it and trying to show them why this book is so precious and life transforming for me.
For the most part, the conversation remained civil and respectful...When it got a little sideways, was when the Atheist would say, "all you Christians, say this...or all you Christians believe this..."
It is hard to argue or reason or feel heard when someone already believes they know exactly what you think and believe, before they even ask you.
But these moments were minor in the conversation and overall, it was a fascinating time.
I Am Completely Convinced
I really believe with all my heart that God is real and Jesus is God and the only way to Heaven. I don't feel threatened by someone who doesn't believe this. What I do feel is a longing, a wish, that they would see Jesus as I do. I have come to realize that my carefully crafted words, my creative analogies and my kindness and compassion can remove barriers people have to following Jesus. But ultimately, I have also come to realize that it is God and God alone, who does the wooing, the calling, the saving work in a person's life.
Leaving for Israel
I am not going, but several of our Pastors from Calvary are, leading a group to Israel beginning this Thursday.
I decided to interview myself about the upcoming trip...
Q: Are you angry/jealous/depressed about not being a part of this trip?
Me: Yes.
Q: Why do you think Christians should be interested in visiting Israel during such a turbulent time?
Me: There are many reasons to visit Israel, but I think the best reason to visit is to see the geography and topography of the nation in light of the historical narratives of the Bible. I can't imagine seeing the Sea of Galilee in person and not being able to understand and appreciate the narratives that take place in the Gospel's involving Jesus and the Sea in a much better light. A seminary professor once told me, after visiting Israel and seeing the land the Bible just "leaps off the page" to the reader.
Q: Do you think would there be any drawbacks to visiting Israel at this time?
Me: For me, the cost of the trip + leaving Marie with 2 small toddlers for 2 weeks was just too much to bear in this season. There is continued fighting in and around Israel, but it doesn't seem any more dangerous than parts of Santa Ana where we live, so I don't see this as a drawback. I do believe a major drawback to visiting Israel would be to see the blantant marketing of Jesus by opportunists. I have heard that the empty tomb site (s) and supposed birthplace of Jesus in Bethelehem are the worst violaters of this. It would be kind of sickening to see this in person. Check out this sign from the Church of All Nations on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem:
(courtsest of Ship of Fools.com)
Q: Do you think God still cares for Israel?
Me: My first response to this questions is YES! God cares for everyone and anyone. Therefore, of course God cares for Israel. My second thought is, YES! I believe the scriptures lay out a clear case that Israel is still to play a major role in God's plan. The Book of Revelation lays out a compelling case, that the major events of the End Times will take place in Israel, including a large remnant of Jews who will accept Jesus as their Messiah. Skim through the Book of Revelation tonight, to see for yourself how clear this prophecy is.Q: So what are you going to do while half the Church Staff is Away?
Me: I plan to visit local grocery stores and ask for donations of milk crates so I can make this:
(courtest of Neatorama.com)
If The Kids Could Chose
Yesterday, I talked to a friend of ours who is going through a divorce.
This person was sharing that they are both so "happy" now and get along so much better with each other, now that they are separated.
I bet both their kids would rather have their Mom and Dad together and married than have them "happy"
I wonder how many kids are "happier" after their parents get divorced?
If I was in control of the world, I would never allow anyone to get divorced who has kids.
This person was sharing that they are both so "happy" now and get along so much better with each other, now that they are separated.
I bet both their kids would rather have their Mom and Dad together and married than have them "happy"
I wonder how many kids are "happier" after their parents get divorced?
If I was in control of the world, I would never allow anyone to get divorced who has kids.
Web Cam Mania
If you are a youth pastor, a former youth pastor, worship leader or a Evangelical Christian between the ages of 22 to 40, you have no doubt been influenced by the David Crowder Band.
These guys constantly find new ways to make incredible music and get people to think.
They began recording a new album this week and are allowing the process to be viewed live on studio webcams!
Check out the recording process for DCB here.
These guys constantly find new ways to make incredible music and get people to think.
They began recording a new album this week and are allowing the process to be viewed live on studio webcams!
Check out the recording process for DCB here.
Marketing Jesus...
I wonder if Jesus would wear this thing
or knock the table over that this sat on...
What do you think?
or knock the table over that this sat on...
What do you think?
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
In a few weeks, our Church will look at the parable of the Good Samaritan found in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 10. You can read it for yourself here.
This parable is one of my all-time favorite passages in the Bible.
The Good Samaritan
I see all of us as as the wounded man (because of SIN), unable to get up and take care of ourselves, needing a Rescuer (Jesus) to bandage our wounds and heal us.
I also see in myself, aspects of the villians in the story, the religious leaders, who walk past the wounded man, unable or unwilling to help him. I believe there are many reason the religious leaders did not stop to help the man (ceremional uncleanliness in potentially touching a dead body, the fear that the man was faking and trapping them into being robbed themselves).
Too Busy
But lately I have been wondering if one of the main reasons, the religious leaders didn't stop to help the wounded man was because they were too busy doing other things, good things and simply didn't have the time to get involved.
Why do I think this may have been a reason they didn't stop?
Because it is the reason I don't stop for the wounded around me.
I ashamed to admit, (but somehow feel safe to confess in this format)
I have had 2 situations in the last week, where I didn't stop for the wounded.
The first situation came 2 Sundays ago. I was driving from one side of our Church campus to the other to meet a couple I was counseling and I was 5 minutes late to meet them. As I drove around the block to the other side of the Church, a lady wearing dirty, dishelved clothes that gave away her living situation, lay on the sidewalk, flat on her back. It was a strange sight and I was confused about what was going on. Was she passed out? Was she laying out to get some sun? I couldn't figure out what was going on, as I drove past her as she lay on the sidewalk. My confusion sadly didn't led to mercy as I simply dismissed her and raced off to my appointment.
Situation #2
This past Saturday Night, I attended a banquet at our Church to honor our church sponsored Global Missionaries who were visiting. As I walked thru the parking lot, late to the banquet, a homeless friend of mine (the same guy who scared me at 6am, if you remember that story from a few months ago), saw me and asked me where I was going.
I told him about the banquet and he quickly asked me, 'do you think they will have any left over food for me?"
I responded in an intentional tone of annoyance, "ya, I'm sure they will, just wait until the dinner is over and go ask in the kitchen" as I hurried off away from him.
Later, as I reflected on the parking lot conversation, my heart was convicted. Why hadn't I invited this guy to join me at the dinner or at least gone and made him a plate and brought it out to the parking lot for him? My compassion was quenched by my hurriedness.
2 wounded people, 2 opportunities to show the compassion of Jesus, 2 busy and hurried moments, 2 missed chances to bring Jesus to people who really need Him.
This parable is one of my all-time favorite passages in the Bible.
The Good Samaritan
I see all of us as as the wounded man (because of SIN), unable to get up and take care of ourselves, needing a Rescuer (Jesus) to bandage our wounds and heal us.
I also see in myself, aspects of the villians in the story, the religious leaders, who walk past the wounded man, unable or unwilling to help him. I believe there are many reason the religious leaders did not stop to help the man (ceremional uncleanliness in potentially touching a dead body, the fear that the man was faking and trapping them into being robbed themselves).
Too Busy
But lately I have been wondering if one of the main reasons, the religious leaders didn't stop to help the wounded man was because they were too busy doing other things, good things and simply didn't have the time to get involved.
Why do I think this may have been a reason they didn't stop?
Because it is the reason I don't stop for the wounded around me.
I ashamed to admit, (but somehow feel safe to confess in this format)
I have had 2 situations in the last week, where I didn't stop for the wounded.
The first situation came 2 Sundays ago. I was driving from one side of our Church campus to the other to meet a couple I was counseling and I was 5 minutes late to meet them. As I drove around the block to the other side of the Church, a lady wearing dirty, dishelved clothes that gave away her living situation, lay on the sidewalk, flat on her back. It was a strange sight and I was confused about what was going on. Was she passed out? Was she laying out to get some sun? I couldn't figure out what was going on, as I drove past her as she lay on the sidewalk. My confusion sadly didn't led to mercy as I simply dismissed her and raced off to my appointment.
Situation #2
This past Saturday Night, I attended a banquet at our Church to honor our church sponsored Global Missionaries who were visiting. As I walked thru the parking lot, late to the banquet, a homeless friend of mine (the same guy who scared me at 6am, if you remember that story from a few months ago), saw me and asked me where I was going.
I told him about the banquet and he quickly asked me, 'do you think they will have any left over food for me?"
I responded in an intentional tone of annoyance, "ya, I'm sure they will, just wait until the dinner is over and go ask in the kitchen" as I hurried off away from him.
Later, as I reflected on the parking lot conversation, my heart was convicted. Why hadn't I invited this guy to join me at the dinner or at least gone and made him a plate and brought it out to the parking lot for him? My compassion was quenched by my hurriedness.
2 wounded people, 2 opportunities to show the compassion of Jesus, 2 busy and hurried moments, 2 missed chances to bring Jesus to people who really need Him.
My Prayer
Lord, give me the compassion of the Good Samaritan.
Not just when it is convenient for me,
but in my day to day, normal living.
Lord, slow me down.
Give me more margin in my life to be the man of compassion
you have called me to be.
Thank you that you are never too busy or hurried to show mercy
to me, to be my rescuer, as the wounds of sin knock me down."
Worship thru Music Has Come A Long Way...Zap!
Check out this odd but equally satisfying diddy by
this 80's Worship team from New York.
Strangely the lead singer ended up dying a few years
later, choking on a sandwich (No joke!).
Thanks to my cousin David for pointing these guys out to me
this 80's Worship team from New York.
Strangely the lead singer ended up dying a few years
later, choking on a sandwich (No joke!).
Thanks to my cousin David for pointing these guys out to me
Good, Bad and Advice from Tuesday, March 03
Good:
Productive leadership meetings at church today
Great all-worship night at our Young Adult Gathering tonight (lots of first-timers tonight too!)
Bad:
I was on the church campus from 6:30am to 11:00pm today.
I am not proud of that. Too many hours away from being a Dad and Husband.
Today was a unique day, not a normal Tuesday fortunately.
Advice:
During a 5 minute break from a day long meeting
I broke out an all out sprint, running as fast as I could for about 50 yards.
There is something incredibly exciting and refreshing about running as fast as you can for a short distance. I plan to incorporate this into my daily routinue from now on!
I advise you to do the same and report back to this blog on the results.
(this blog is not responsible for hamstrings or busted cankles)
Productive leadership meetings at church today
Great all-worship night at our Young Adult Gathering tonight (lots of first-timers tonight too!)
Bad:
I was on the church campus from 6:30am to 11:00pm today.
I am not proud of that. Too many hours away from being a Dad and Husband.
Today was a unique day, not a normal Tuesday fortunately.
Advice:
During a 5 minute break from a day long meeting
I broke out an all out sprint, running as fast as I could for about 50 yards.
There is something incredibly exciting and refreshing about running as fast as you can for a short distance. I plan to incorporate this into my daily routinue from now on!
I advise you to do the same and report back to this blog on the results.
(this blog is not responsible for hamstrings or busted cankles)
Highlights of the Weekend
- I've Been praying for a friend for the last 2 years to meet Jesus and today he showed up at our Church! Act II begins.
- Marie and I went to see Chris Tomlin at the Universal Ampitheater in Los Angeles last night. Tomlin has such an incredible ability to get out of the way and allow people to worship God. I was skeptical this could happen when each person there paid $25 to see Tomlin in concert, but somehow thanks to a Ugandan orphan choir, a scaled down stage, an audience that came to worship God and Tomlin's humility, it actually happened, people worshipped God over any musician on stage. Awesome.
- Went to the greatest 2 year old birthday party yesterday...I think I liked it just as much as my kids. Thanks Davis family!
-Brent Dedmon preached with passion today at Calvary on Luke 15 and the older brother of the Prodigal. I needed to hear this message today.
- Enjoyed a great breakfast at Ruby's Diner in Tustin on Saturday morning with my family and a few of our friends from the Young Adult Ministry at Calvary.
-Tore out a bunch of overgrown plants on our side yard Friday afternoon. Being a Pastor, I don't experience many days getting my hands dirty, so it is nice to have a day to really dig in and accomplish some grunt work. (except, I was so sore, I couldn't stand up straight the rest of the weekend).
- I am loving Isaiah, Chapter 40 right now. It is the perfect passage to look to when I feel tired, weary, discouraged, hopeless, dumped on or simply need to remind myself of the Greatness of God.
- Marie and I went to see Chris Tomlin at the Universal Ampitheater in Los Angeles last night. Tomlin has such an incredible ability to get out of the way and allow people to worship God. I was skeptical this could happen when each person there paid $25 to see Tomlin in concert, but somehow thanks to a Ugandan orphan choir, a scaled down stage, an audience that came to worship God and Tomlin's humility, it actually happened, people worshipped God over any musician on stage. Awesome.
- Went to the greatest 2 year old birthday party yesterday...I think I liked it just as much as my kids. Thanks Davis family!
-Brent Dedmon preached with passion today at Calvary on Luke 15 and the older brother of the Prodigal. I needed to hear this message today.
- Enjoyed a great breakfast at Ruby's Diner in Tustin on Saturday morning with my family and a few of our friends from the Young Adult Ministry at Calvary.
-Tore out a bunch of overgrown plants on our side yard Friday afternoon. Being a Pastor, I don't experience many days getting my hands dirty, so it is nice to have a day to really dig in and accomplish some grunt work. (except, I was so sore, I couldn't stand up straight the rest of the weekend).
- I am loving Isaiah, Chapter 40 right now. It is the perfect passage to look to when I feel tired, weary, discouraged, hopeless, dumped on or simply need to remind myself of the Greatness of God.
Memo to Anyone in a Band, anyone who is a Christian and lives in Nashville or Texas and Any Dude Who Graduated High School Between 2001 and 2005
Please do not think having a haircut like
Johnny Rzeznik from the 90's band Goo-Goo Dolls
in cool/hip/necessary/normal/edgy/rocker/artsie
or any other positive verb, adjective or noun.
Your hair looks dumb and you need to do something about it.
Especially all of you guitar and bass players from
Wow, I feel better.
Johnny Rzeznik from the 90's band Goo-Goo Dolls
in cool/hip/necessary/normal/edgy/rocker/artsie
or any other positive verb, adjective or noun.
Your hair looks dumb and you need to do something about it.
Especially all of you guitar and bass players from
literally every Christian band from Texas to Nashville.
Wow, I feel better.
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