Good Old Time

Over the last few months I have been walking through the Old Testament. Man, I am amazed at all that went on with everyone and the whole messed upness that shows up in those stories. There are parts that read like the movie the Godfather, when David hands over the throne to his son and gives him the list of who he needs to kill before taking over, Or the story of Tamar and man that gets an R rating.
There is some messed up stuff going on!
The crazy thing is the only stories I was ever exposed to were the safe ones, so I ask why are those crazy ones in there anyway?
I had an ahh ha! moment on that one when our small group went through a series on DVD called "Take it to the Limit". I highly recommend that one by the way. Andy Stanley shared that Israel had been in bondage for so long when in Egypt they were void of any understanding of law and order. All they knew was the whip and the survival of the fittest mindset.Take them out of that structure lead them into the wilderness and you know what you get......Leviticus!
Think about it, no order, no structure, no wonder they wanted to go back. Millions of people had to put their trust in one man named Moses and he had to lead and guide a nation in the most messed up time in their history.
Bottom Line........
I am learning about Gods Love for a people that's majorly messsed up and He Pursued them on a grand scale. With a plan that involves the sacrifice of His Son. What's so Amazingly Crazy about this is even in the midst of the broken situations in the old testament in the front of his mind He saw me and you. the plan was for us too. Cuz when you think about it we're just as messed up!
So Remember God is pursuing you!

Sunday Night Thoughts

WOW, what a great day, the Sun is shining and I truly believe that spring is here to stay....Yes!

We just finished week two of double stuf and I am very pleased.The Teams hit the ball hard and we had a blast. Marshall, Tyler and Henry were solid and Abby knocked it out with "two are better than one"!!

Great Energy at Illuminate tonite and serious Hangability. Props to Scott and Scott.

Faye and the Gang in the Reign Forest are kicking it as well rooms are packed and lives are Impacted in every way!

Met some Kidstuffers from southern Ohio,man they had a great Story and God is at work in their lives.

Dwight...Powerful, The line that got me is "forgiveness is just the beginning then healing can begin"

Danny, the closer was Tight!!

That's It My prayer is that everyone has a great week and God shows up in your life in an unsuspected way ( a good way )

LATE........

A Crazy Week

I haven't blogged since last Saturday, Sorry about that man it's been a crazy week.
There are times when things come all at once and we end up saying when this day comes man will i be a happy guy and then that day comes and you say when that next day comes I will be past the rough stuff and it seems that that day never comes either.

I don't know if that makes sense to anyone but it sure makes sense to me.

Anyway, this week was full of promise, opportunity, challenge and stress and you know what, I don't want it any other way. What I found is life like this drives me to my knees and stuff that does that can't be all that bad. I'm Growing and man do I feel it. All of it makes me feel alive, the crucial challenge is to leverage it and not let it bang me up.
I know in the past it would have impacted my family time and now I don't let it. In the past the focus would have been poor Kevin and now it's about My relationship with God. Yes I still battle with sleep issues and yes at times I battle some depression but all in all God is on the Throne and I'm committed to give my all to my children, my marriage and my pursuit of Intimacy with God. The rest Flows from that! So I say, Bring It On!

A Growth Mindset

It's something every leader needs, a must have can't do without process. Its a growth mindset. In the span of time of my leadership I have bumped up against many leaders.
From the local level to the national level I have discovered patterns among them that speak to the reasons why many are where they are both good or bad. The Major Indicator of success among leaders in all areas is directly connected to a growth mindset.The basic understanding that I need to challenge my thinking daily in order to improve, impact and influence. The methods range from developing a reading plan to connecting with leaders on a relational think tank level to listening to podcasts and Cd's. Attacking your growth with what ever resources you can connect with while taking nuggets from your learning and implementing them consistently.
The key is to grow to the place where you see mistakes as an opportunity and gain confidence and courage as a result of managing those mistakes.
I believe there are many leaders who adopt the opposite process. A static mindset seeks comfort and is paralyzed by the idea of Mistakes. There is an unwillingness to change Personal levels of leadership practices because of fear and many cannot bear the weight of accountability and evaluation.
The Invisible is that we think that it's a person Issue but really it's a mindset issue. There are a ton of areas in my life where my mindsets are impacted, some Daily.
This is no different.
All it needs is a Defining Moment and an Action step.
Recently Author and Educator Carol Dweck wrote a book on this topic and Knocked it out of the Park! It's called Mindset- The New Psychology of Success. Powerful!!!

I challenge you to pick it up and engage a Growth Mindset.

Randomness

I rented a video and I wonder if I will have any time to watch it. Yes, I have rented videos that I have never watched.

I Watched Idol last night, it was time for Haley to go, I wonder how long sanjaya will last?

Did you know on any night at 10pm you can watch CSI. I can't even keep them all straight and it's even more of a nightmare when the shows are two parts.

It's Spring.... Right?

I have seen Rev. Al Sharpton more in the last 5 days than I saw of him when he ran for President.

Why is it so easy to remember stupid commercial jingles and so hard to memorize scripture?

I love popcorn with parmesean cheese and tabasco.

I Love My Family, they are amazing and make me laugh...I AM BLESSED!

As Fast As I Can

On sunday my 40 day fast ended and man did I tear up some food! You know what things didn't taste as good as I thought they would. I remember John on a first wednesday spoke to this. Food being an Idol....Powerful and right at me man! And now after the fasting experience I have a new perspective.
I think I need to shift my thinking on food from living to eat to eating to live. It doesn't mean that I can't enjoy food, it's moving it from Idol status to a level that it doesn't become the end all for me. If you know me you also know this will be a major adjustment, I know my way around major cities by restraunt locations....Seriously!
All I know is this, I'm eating all I want and I don't feel all that great. Maybe that's an indication that it's time to move to another level in my relationship with God. It's also an opportunity to make some great choices regarding diet and exercise. The bottom line is I think that at times the whole food thing created an invironment that it's ALL ABOUT ME! I don't want that, I want it to be all about Christ. I want it to be all about my Family. Pray for me, more to come on this one.

Happy Easter!!

Hey, Hope you all have a wonderful Easter. A special thanks to all those who rolled up your sleeves today to Serve families who came to experience (some for the first time) a relevant Easter environment. Wow think of it someone came today, braved a cold Easter morning, maybe even a little ticked off because they didn't get to sleep in, looking for a reason not to like church. And then they bumped into you, with a smile on your face and an extended hand you impacted a life! Little did they know that you woke up even earlier, it was even colder when you left, so God's Love could be revealed in and through you to a total stranger! Amazing, and it's humbling that i get the priveledge to serve along side you, Thank you!
To the Family Ministry team You guys are the BEST!!!! Keep Kicking the Door Down, God Is At Work!

Double Stuf

Hey Everybody, Kidstuf is Blowing up and next week we launch Double Stuf, yup two Kidstufs on the 10's. 10:10 and 12:10 You don't want to miss the opportunity to invite friends or family. Next week is going to be off the hook as always.
Hey a quick ask for any who may see this...this move is very strategic, trying to create space for new stuffers to experience an incredible family environment. One way to help us out on that would be to attend the second kidstuf,especially if your kids attend the second velocity hour. What that looks like is, you in the church service and your kids in velocity at 11:00 and the whole family meets at 12:10 for Kidstuf. Any help there would be huge in it's impact to Families in our area.
Got to go, Gordo and Bubba just got their heads stuck in something....ugh

24

I am officially addicted to the show 24. The action, the suspense, the twists and of course every season is not complete without that guy you want to punch in the face.
Evey time I watch it i'm confronted with a ton of "what would I do's". Would I lie to save millions of lives? Would I kill someone in order to bring about world peace?
Every week i'm captured by the moment, the split second decisions of our hero Jack Bauer. I get to observe and analize the situation while insulated in my home, on the couch with my favorite snacks.
When you think of Easter i'm reminded that God knows first hand the reality of the decisions that I just spoke of.
I'm reminded that there is a 24 hour period prior to the Crucifixion that puts "the show 24" on the level of Disney. Sit down this week and read the story again and fully engage in the reality that there is a God in Heaven That Gave his Son and a Son who was obedient to his Fathers Vision to save YOU!
When you wrestle with that it forces us to get off the couch and out of the house. It makes me want to peel off the insulation and Worship God.
24 entertains me.........The Cross Confronts me.......Praise God!