Woke up early today and did nothing! Which is a huge switch for me. Usually I am up way before everyone else in the house and I sit at my computer working. April and I have decided that this weekend is going to be a relaxation weekend and that we are going veg out as much as possible this weekend. We do have a few things on the agenda (band practice and visiting a church we've been meaning to visit) but other than that. It'll be movies and naps.
Oh yea.....don't forget about all the great football games this weekend too!
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
My Secrets: Getting Closer
I have got to say I am really excited about the next series we are kicking off called My Secrets. I just finished going through the first two messages today and they are really good. I just have this feeling that God is going to show up big time and we are going to see some great things happen. We have some cool things planned that are not a usual part of what we do at Real Life that have me really excited. We have adopted a theme song (Dirty Little Secrets-by The All American Rejects) that we are going to play every week as a kick off for the message.
I mentioned to my 14 year old that we were going to be using that song and that he'd need to practice it (he is going to play a little bass guitar with the house band next month.) As I was telling him about it he got this weird look on his face and he said "Dad you know that's not exactly a nice song for church right?" I smiled and told him of course I did and that is why we are going to be using it. We are doing a series on stuff that many people try to keep hidden from other people because if they shared that stuff they might not look so good.
I love this stuff!!
I mentioned to my 14 year old that we were going to be using that song and that he'd need to practice it (he is going to play a little bass guitar with the house band next month.) As I was telling him about it he got this weird look on his face and he said "Dad you know that's not exactly a nice song for church right?" I smiled and told him of course I did and that is why we are going to be using it. We are doing a series on stuff that many people try to keep hidden from other people because if they shared that stuff they might not look so good.
I love this stuff!!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Great Sunday
What a great Sunday service we had this week. We saw several new families come check us out and we saw a few people that came to check out our last service come back. In fact, one even brought someone which is an awesome thing!!
I am getting more and more stoked about the next series we are running. I just know that we are going to reach people big time. We're kicking off in two weeks with a message on Lying. Who of us doesn't struggle with that one??
I will say I am a little bit bumming today because my favorite NFL team got spanked!!
I am getting more and more stoked about the next series we are running. I just know that we are going to reach people big time. We're kicking off in two weeks with a message on Lying. Who of us doesn't struggle with that one??
I will say I am a little bit bumming today because my favorite NFL team got spanked!!
New toys New Series
Our new mixer came in the other day and it is pretty sweet! We can do so many more things wtih this mixer that we could never do with our old one. There's really only 1 big downside to buying a new mixer, well two downsides. First, you have to pay for it. Second, the first few times you use it can be a little tricky because you have to get all the signals and sounds going in the right direction. That might sound easy but it's kind of a pain in the butt!
Once we got the board dialed in the practice went pretty well and we should be ready for today's service. I have mentioned repeatedly how excited I am about not just this week but the next month and a half. Today's message is really good and something most every person, let alone, Christian needs to hear. For our next service in two weeks, we are starting our My Secrets series. April has been working on the song "Dirty Little Secret" by the All American Rejects. We are going to be using that as an intro all five weeks of the series. We don't use secular tunes that often so it will get people's attention when they hear it. The promo stuff is going out today and I am really excited to see how it will be received!!
We also dropped out last shipment of direct mailers this week so we should hopefully see some folks from those plus a few new folks from personal invites.
I have been sensing for the last few weeks like something big is going to happen and it starts today!! How cool is that!!
Once we got the board dialed in the practice went pretty well and we should be ready for today's service. I have mentioned repeatedly how excited I am about not just this week but the next month and a half. Today's message is really good and something most every person, let alone, Christian needs to hear. For our next service in two weeks, we are starting our My Secrets series. April has been working on the song "Dirty Little Secret" by the All American Rejects. We are going to be using that as an intro all five weeks of the series. We don't use secular tunes that often so it will get people's attention when they hear it. The promo stuff is going out today and I am really excited to see how it will be received!!
We also dropped out last shipment of direct mailers this week so we should hopefully see some folks from those plus a few new folks from personal invites.
I have been sensing for the last few weeks like something big is going to happen and it starts today!! How cool is that!!
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Band practice and critics
April and I just got back from band practice tonight and I am pretty dog gone impressed. Tim's lead guitar stuff sounded awesome. John's drumming was spot on, and Tony is coming along really well on the bass. The band sounded great tonight. I can't wait for this weekend something just tells me this is going to be a great weekend at Real Life.
You know it's going to be a great day in a church when people complain. You know something is going right. In fact, we have had a couple of complaint phone calls today from people who recieved one of our flyers in the mail which tells me that something must be working to get people all upset over a picture of a turtle with the words "stuck" on it! I was actually waiting on the calls. I've kind of learned that anytime you do something like that people get upset that you made contact with them.
The funny thing is, it's usually other Christians who get offended at you mailing them something. The last time we did direct mailings we actually had another pastor call the church upset that one of his people got a direct mail card. He accused us of trying to build a church at the expense of his congregation. How sad!
I actually felt sorry for the guy. I reassured him that, in fact, we were trying to reach those without a church home and the only way we can do direct mail (effectively) is to get a card to everyone in a neighborhood. As I was talking to the guy I was thinking, if your not in the market for a new car it doesn't matter how many times a car dealer sends you an ad, you're not going to buy. If his people were not in the market for a new church, it shouldn't matter what his people were sent because they were not in the market.
I love church planting. What a ride!
You know it's going to be a great day in a church when people complain. You know something is going right. In fact, we have had a couple of complaint phone calls today from people who recieved one of our flyers in the mail which tells me that something must be working to get people all upset over a picture of a turtle with the words "stuck" on it! I was actually waiting on the calls. I've kind of learned that anytime you do something like that people get upset that you made contact with them.
The funny thing is, it's usually other Christians who get offended at you mailing them something. The last time we did direct mailings we actually had another pastor call the church upset that one of his people got a direct mail card. He accused us of trying to build a church at the expense of his congregation. How sad!
I actually felt sorry for the guy. I reassured him that, in fact, we were trying to reach those without a church home and the only way we can do direct mail (effectively) is to get a card to everyone in a neighborhood. As I was talking to the guy I was thinking, if your not in the market for a new car it doesn't matter how many times a car dealer sends you an ad, you're not going to buy. If his people were not in the market for a new church, it shouldn't matter what his people were sent because they were not in the market.
I love church planting. What a ride!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Getting really excited
I have to admit I am getting really excited about the next few months at Real Life. We are getting ready to start the new series (My Secret) and I am just pumped about it. More than ever people are checking us out and wanting to come. We are getting ready to run some radio ads that will promo the church....This is an exciting time!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Great people make great teams!
I went to bed last night and woke up this morning just thinking about how great a team we have at Real Life. We are so blessed to have so many talented musicians, graphics people, computer techies, and teachers. If I missed something forgive me, it's early!
I just want to give a big shout out and say thank you to everyone helping out. I am so blessed to have you guys and gals. We'd be lost without all of you.
Keep up the hard work!!
I just want to give a big shout out and say thank you to everyone helping out. I am so blessed to have you guys and gals. We'd be lost without all of you.
Keep up the hard work!!
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