Saturday, May 31, 2008

interesting Article

Read this today on abcnews.com. Gives a pretty decent history, some pretty decent insights. Seems often we ignore the fact that history repeats itself.

There's also an article there about the guy claiming to have video of an alien. I've been hearing a lot of stuff about UFO's this week. Don't know what to make of it, just wiggy. Haven't really come across any insightful articles from a Christian standpoint on the idea of other life in the cosmos. Of course, very back burner for me these days, but an interesting issue.

Church tomorrow is going to ROCK. We're opening with Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down, and the first of a three week "Man Series." the stage looks awesome. Gotta go to sleep now so I can be ready to rock in the AM!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Mark Driscoll on Election

Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle did a series called "ask Anything" in which he answered a series of questions. I haven't followed him much over the past 10 years and now I'm regretting it. There are many videos on youtube, he, like other pastors of large churches, comes under fire every now and then for what he says and does. Mark has a strong Calvinist/reformed leaning, which is exactly my background, though I'm not too vocal about it day in and day out. Here is a GREAT clip that really explains what the doctrines of election and free will are all about. He gets pretty fired up on this one!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Home

We still have some painting and cleaning to do at the apartment, and some unpacking to do here, but we're now at our new home here in Maitland, FL. Feels SOOOO nice!

As I write, just finished listening to "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones, with soft light in our living room, our cat finally walking around checking out the place, and I'm in my recliner in our new living room. It's been a crazy and long 24 hours, but now it's just me and Anne going to settle in for the evening and prepare for worship in the AM. So much to be thankful for! He's been very good to us.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Can I just say?

God is rockin' it at Grace. I was so proud of more than 30 people who signed up to test drive a volunteer area yesterday. And worship yesterday was awesome. More and more people are becoming aware of the freedom we have in Christ, the freedom from sin, to him. When we operate in his freedom, we live by his rules, and our worship and energy can be from our heart to his. It was evident yesterday in the clapping and cheering during fast songs and the raised hands and closed eyes and open hearts in the ballads and intimate slower songs. I wanted to just start hammering my guitar on the bridge of "None But Jesus"--"All my delight is in You Lord, all of my hope, and all of my strength!" Instead I let the lovely meditative voice of my wife carry me to the feet of Jesus is silent praise.

Can I just say...Mike is great at preaching the Word of God in a way that people can get it. He doesn't use stuffy language that leaves people confused. I hope I can learn to preach like that. Perhaps I should listen to more Mark Driscoll for inspiration.

Can I just say...another guy I am reading and following on twitter and watching online is Perry Noble. God has lit this guy up and I pray God continues to bless this man and Newspring Church.

Can I just say....I'm jealous of Mike and Dave going to the Whiteboard Sessions without me, but pumped for D.P. bringing the Word on Sunday?

And one more that I would just like to say: God doesn't like it when people choose to stand in the way of His purposes. He opposes the proud but gives Grace to the humble. Just puttin' it out there.

Update later in the day: Can I just say....TWITTER is awesome. And to take twitter to the next level, twhirl. I will have arrived when I have twhirl on my pocket PC cell phone with windows mobile. Arrived where? Insert witty answer: _______________

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Packing and Painting

It is common among preachers and their kind to be quite proud of a large library. The subject of how much wall space or how many volumes comes up every now and then. I used to be quite proud of mine, as I acquired much of it before coming to Florida, then added to it little by little over the Seminary years.

But those who've known me since I first moved to FL know that I've moved I think 8 times in 7 years, and I haven't moved in 3 years until now. Each time, my library gets smaller and smaller. I find myself perusing books that I have had and carted around all these years and never opened. I am deeply grateful to those who contributed so much to my library in the early years by giving me first dibs as they downsized their libraries when they were moving. Now I find myself doing the same.

I was even more ruthless this time though--all these years I've kept many notes, old tests and papers from both Bible College and Seminary. Today, I threw out 3/4 of it. I didn't throw it out of my head and heart, just out of my closet. I even threw out all the duplicate copies of my pictures from my trip to the Holy Land back in 1998. We have three medium sized boxes of books to go to the used bookstore with, and Anne brought a few things to goodwill the other day and we're making another pile. We're making good progress! I'll be really happy if I can fill up my 4Runner one more time with stuff for the dumpster. I don't know that it'll happen though.


We did a few things to get ready for church in the morning (which will be awesome!), and then got of Hot Dog Heaven fix. I swear I've never had a better hot dog or better fries. Ever. After that, we made our way to the new place for an afternoon of painting for me. I painted the nursery, so that all that's left is a second coat of the sage green color on two of the walls. When it's all done, pics will follow. Looking forward to our little boy being in there!

And now I part to watch August Rush!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Crazy Times

Life is a bit hectic right now. We closed on the new house on Friday late afternoon! It was an interesting experience, signing a bunch of paperwork. I walked out not really understanding half of what I signed but knowing it's OK too. We got a new washer and dryer due to the seller's forgetfulness--they told us to go to Appliance Direct and pick out something comparable to what she had in there. Soooo--"BWAND NEW....IN THE BOX...from Worrrs laaagest appwiance showroom!"--we got a GE matching set.

Of course the delivery guys showed up with these at the end of their 2hr window last night, so I didn't get to fire those bad boys up until about 9:00PM, which made me stay and keep painting until almost 11:00PM. I have painted one wall and closet doors for the nursery (nursery!) and the first coat on one wall of the master BR. I have to figure out the easiest way to paint over varnished wood. My good friend Brad gave me all kinds of advice last night on things I can do that are relatively cheap that will help us as we're just moving in...things like changing the outlets from 2-prong to 3-prong, putting contact paper in the cabinets rather than painting them, and getting a closet organizer system for the pantry.

I'll probably head over there again tonight for another evening of painting and doing laundry. Maybe a run to Lowe's for a few basic items too--so glad there's a nice new Lowe's 5 minutes away! Pics will follow soon...

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

A mile a minute

So I blogged on Friday from Denver. I just got back in the door after a couple more days in Denver then flying to Atlanta for a conference at Northpoint Church in Alpharetta. Had a huge blast, a great time, learned a ton, got challenged and even hammered over the head a couple times...and had fun.

If you ever go to a conference--stay to the END! The last session was totally incredible. Andy Stanley scrapped what he had planned and spoke about 5 quotes that are currently posted in his office that are really on his mind. Awesome stuff, things he was really passionate about. The session closed with a rousing rendition of "We Shine" by the Northpoint Band.

Worship people, you should download and listen to "Louder Than Creation." Every song on there has something really good about it. I don't like all the elements of all the songs...they're not all immediately portable to worship at Grace Fellowship or other churches, but they're great songs.

So they kept on building up this huge surprise that we wouldn't want to miss on Tuesday night...a "Roadtrip" since the conference was called Drive. Turned out, the roadtrip was 20 miles up the 400 to Northpoint's BrownsBridge campus, where there was hamburgers, hotdogs, ribs, funnel cakes, etc. A picnic atmosphere. I did the wait by the doors and rush for a good seat thing...got 4th row. After a pretty decent bluegrass band played, there was a media of a guy that painted a pretty good painting of a deer....out of BBQ SAUCE! And then....
...this orange Smart Car pulls up and out jumps Jeff Foxworthy! He proceeded to do a whole show, of course it was a blast, totally hilarious. I guess Jeff goes to Northpoint now. Jeff loves the Lord, it's so cool.

Today wrapped up the conference as I stated above, we tried to tour the Buckhead Campus but everything was locked up as all their staff were at Alpharetta. So we jumped in the car and made downtown ATL to downtown Orlando in 6 hrs.

It'll probably be a little before I update again, we are trying desperately to close on our house on friday, in the moving process, pregnant (which reminds me I REALLY should blog about that but for now check out Anne's), picking up work after 10 days being gone,...Lord knows what else I've got going on. And Lord knows it's only by his power and grace I'll get through it all!

Friday, May 2, 2008

Howdy-Ho!

I can't say I'm a fan of the show South Park, but there are many like me who have at least seen a few minutes of it, enough to be familiar with Mr. Hankey. The show is based on a real area, one that we drove through today, on the high plains off 285. So, my wife insisted...



Today I drove the second most beautiful drive I think I've ever driven in the mountains. The most beautiful is the Icefields parkway in Alberta north of Banff. Today, Anne and I drove 285 from Conifer to Buena Vista, CO. At one point about 30 miles from Conifer, you come around this bend around the side of a mountain (down from 10,000 feet to about 9500), to look out on a huge, expansive open plain. For 40 miles, route 285 makes its way through the plain, surrounded by snowcapped mountains.



Eventually, you drive through one last pass, and again come around a bend, to behold the Collegiate Peaks and the town of Buena Vista lying at their feet. Pretend you're in the driver's seat of your rented 2008 Toyota Highlander:



I love it here. Anne loves it here. I have to be honest. Listening to the line "Savior, He can move the mountains, my God is mighty to save..." while looking at this scenery! Very inspiring.

A friend recently suggested that the air up here is God's breath. It was sure blasting across the high plains today--drove through some 60 mph gusts. At one point, we were behind a semi that was fighting to stay on the road in this wind but still maintaining 70 mph speed. I cranked the toyota up to 100mph to get ahead of him--while blaring Kyrie by Mr. Mister. Exhilarating!