Sunday Mind Dump

My head is spinning tonight with all the stuff going on over the next few months! Some really cool stuff happening today. So let's dump:

• Way too quiet today. We were missing a ton of people and a ton of kids and it just wasn't Real Life today.
  
• Felt cool to play the electric guitar again. Man, I love my strat.
• Teaching felt great today. A message we needed to hear.
• Web cast working again. Hopefully we can keep it that way. It's probably because Trezzo was in Chicagoland that all the tech stuff went well. He seems to screw things up in the name of making them better :)
• Play practice is underway. It's going to be cool.
• Way too much bread left over. We are looking for people who could take some whenever we have this much left over. If you know someone who can use it let me know.
• Looking forward to Christmas. We have a chance to reach out to a ton of people. Pray about that one!

Baby Got Back

April and I just got back from dinner with her family. I could not possibly eat another bite of food today or I will explode. April on the other hand was talking about going to Baskin Robbins tonight not more than 10 minutes after we left her parents. I cannot believe how much that woman can pack away into such a tiny body. Maybe she needs to see a doctor or something cause that aint normal :)

This Weekend

This weekend we are going to kick off our teaching series He will be called. Most people think of the baby Jesus in a manger at this time of the year. I want us to take a look at the words of the Prophet Isaiah because he said Jesus would be our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and our Prince of Peace. This Christmas, you can get a fresh new perspective on just who Jesus is and how he can change our lives.

Sunday Mind Dump

I had a ton of fun at church today. Course, the pressure was off since I wasn't teaching!
So, let's dump:

• Martha did a great job teaching today. It's always tough to teach during a church service when you don't do it often. Her message was great and I think many people needed to hear it.
• It was nice to play guitar again. Aaron is back on next week. He is much better than I am so it's an upgrade for sure.
• Nice to see so many new faces over the last few months. Attendance is up. That is always cool to see!
• Big things coming up for Real Life. It's going to be a great couple of months for us as a church.
• After the next session small groups will be on winter break. We'll start them again the second week of January so stay tuned.

I better get moving. I was just told I am going to empty the dishwasher. I am sure glad I was told, I would have NEVER known that!

Business Meeting

We had a great business meeting this week. We made some big decisions for the church. Some I can't tell you about right now and some I can. So here goes:

• We are canceling church the Sunday between Christmas and New Years (Dec 28th.) We knew that we'd have a bunch of people on the road visiting family and we thought canceling church just made sense. We want you to enjoy your families during the holidays, notworring about getting back for church.
• We are having two presentations of the Christmas play this year. Saturday the 20th and Sunday morning the 21st. For both presentations we'll have a meal (details to follow this weekend.)
• We are getting our budget together for next year. God has blessed us so far and it's going to be awesome to see what he does next year.

Some other things on tap for us...Martha is teaching this weekend. It'll be nice for me to take a week off I have taught for 3 straight months and it's nice to get a breather now and then. Decorating is coming up in two weeks. If you'd like to help decorate the church see Shelly Myers.

Sunday Mind Dump

Today was a stinking long day! A nice day, but a long day. So Let's dump:

• I am glad we are done with Mythbusters. It has been fun to teach and everyone has seemed to enjoy it. We might do it again next year as we have had several people asked about doing it again.
  
• Love that new tune we closed with. I can't get it out of my head.
• The Tracy Parsons project (surprise b-day party) went off without a hitch. Nice work everyone. Although a few times I though the kids were going to rat us all out.
• Tampa almost found a way to lose today. I thought they were going to do it but they proved me wrong and won one.
  
• My fantasy team is getting killed. I have lost 3 of the last 4 games (I am losing now so that might change but I doubt it!)
• Aaron is on a business trip this week. You get me and my green guitar again. There USED to be a time when I was the best acoustic guitar player we had. Man, has that gone far away! Aaron has really stepped up his playing and singing.
  
• We are really blessed with worship leaders.
  

I have a frozen pizza calling my name right now. It's off to eat my dinner and watch and little TV with the wife. I am outta here!

My Rotation...

Currently, I am digging the following music:

Robbie Seay Band: Give Yourself Away
Chris Tomlin: Hello Love
Casting Crowns: The Alter and the Door
Goo Goo Dolls: Greatest Hits
Kids in the Way: Love Hate Masquerade

Just a few things running through my Napster play lists lately.

Last Weekend

This weekend is the last one for our Mythbusters series. I have loved teaching it so far. This week we continue to look at the questions you asked me. There are some big ones this week including: How do you know if you are really saved? Is it ok for a Christian to read a horoscope? And a host of others...don't miss it!

Sunday Mind Dump

I am completely blown away at how God has blessed our church with people who actually care for one another. I have never, ever, been a part of a group of people at a church that care about each other more. The thing that blows me away is not just that people care but that they are willing to put their care into action and actually step out to do something about it. I am humbled and awestruck that God would allow me to lead a group like this. You guys make my job easy.

So lets dump:

• Looks like we are moving our Sunday morning worship experience to 10am. I am not sure if that is going to be a permanant solution but starting the first weekend in December we'll give it a go.
  
• The band sounded great again today. They were all a little sluggish during rehearsal this morning but they sure pulled it together and rocked the house today.
• I felt like I was off my teaching game today. Just seemed like I was forcing myself through the message. Hopefully, it didn't seem that way to everyone else :)
• Pray for Joe Suchomma (Brett's Dad) right now it's still touch and go. A little too much to detail here other than to say he needs your prayers...just pray for him.
• A rough fantasy football day. Most of my best players are on a bye this week. Still hanging in there against the Paper Boy.
• Christmas is coming and we have some strategic decisions to make about when we are doing Christmas related things. We are kicking around a Christmas Eve candlelight communion service for those we are still in town.
  

I am outta here. See you all soon!

One Prayer

Last summer our church partnered with thousands of churches across the country for the message series One Prayer. As part of that series churches across the globe opened up their pulpits to allow pastors from other churches to share their "One Prayer" with them. It was a great time for us as a church and God has been impressing upon me lately that we are not done with One Prayer.

I feel like God is saying that we need to continue partnering with other churches so that we can be more effective. I want to start that process by praying for another church weekly. Starting today, I am going to take on one church here in this city and add them to my daily prayer life. I am going to pray that God would bless them. I am going to pray that God would grow them and that God would protect the leadership of that church. If you would like to join with me I would love to have you pray with me. Since I have gotten to know their pastor a little over the last few months I figured I would start by praying for:

Family Christian Center
www.aroundthefamily.com
Pastor Beau


If you'd like to stand with me in praying for the well being of other churches start today and pray for Family Christian Center.

If you would like a church added to the prayer list email me and we can make that happen. If you'd like to make sure you follow those churches we are praying for sign up to follow this blog and you'll get alerts on them. If you are a pastor and we have been praying for your church I'd love to be able to brag on everything God is doing at your place. Email me and let me know so I can get it out there!!

Peace!

It's the opposite

I am sitting here on my couch scanning email after a huge meal (courtesy of Don Pablo's tonight) and was thinking that many Pastors feel like they lead lonely lives. They feel like they have no friends and are all alone.

I have to say for the life of my I can't understand why. I have some great friends at church. Maybe that's one of the things that makes Real Life so special. Our people actually really care about each other. I don't want that to sound like our church is great your church sucks kinda thing. But I have never, ever, been a part of a church where people are better friends. That is awesome.

Are there times that, as a pastor, I stand alone in my burden for the church? Without a doubt, that is something most Pastors experience. We have a burden for our churches and people that people outside of the ministry will probably never know. But, I can call virtually any of the guys from church and hang out over a burger and just be me.

That is a cool thing!

Fantasy Football

Watching the Cleveland Browns play football tonight. I must say Brady Quinn looks very sharp 3 quarters into the game. Too bad they are 3 and 5 it's a little late to get hot. My team has a bye this week and many of my fantasy players do to. I am scrambling this week to find players to get points.

So, I will not be doing much fantasy football trash talking this week.

Election Reminders

So, another election has come and gone. Some people are happy, some people are not. Some have a new hope right now, and some people are afraid. For us in the church, we should care about who wins an election but at the end of the day we need to remember nothing comes our way without God allowing it. Both good and bad, nothing comes our way without God knowing and approving it. For those of us who are believers it is really important that our hope is not in a politcal party. Our hope is not found in a democrat or a republican. Our hope is not found in who wins an election. Our hope rests solely in God and His blessings in our lives. Don't loose sight of that.

I for one am glad it's safe to answer the phone again!

Sunday Mind Dump

I know I often say that church was great but it just was today. Everything went smooth from the time we got in the building until we left at 12:30. So, let us dumpth:

• Great start to the MythBusters series today. I know that I put some folks on edge with our frank talk about homosexuality. Remember, we start with love.
• Some great stuff coming next week. Just wait. This is going to be your favorite series ever.
• The band is getting really tight. Love that.
• Nice crowd today. We needed that after last weekend!
• Way too many sweets today. I tried hard to control myself. I had a single oatmeal cookie and a small apple danish. Aren't you all proud of me?
• Happy Birthday to Noah and Jody!
• My buccaneers almost gave away a win today. They should have killed the chiefs....but a win is a win.
• Next week we are talking about some heavy stuff too. Pray for me as I finish preparing. I want to always speak the truth in love.
• We are going to take the newsletter to an every other month publication for now. I jave too much on my plate to do it every month right now.
  

I am outta here.