The Next Set (Letters to the Next President)…

http://www.armysurpluswarehouse.com/product/swedish-grey-barracuda-net-16-x-32-4104.cfm

So who wants to play volleyball in the ATL area???

this is going to serve as the sign up page for my latest athletic obsession:  Volleyball

Where do you currently play?

Who do you play with?

How often do you play?

Would it be cool if I joined you?  these are my questions… please answer

 

 

beach or indoor, it doesn’t really matter.  Beach season is coming to a close this fall but either way I would love to know where people are playing.  I caught the Olympic Gold fever and have got to start playing more.

A couple design projects for Southside:

 

 

The Making of a Message…

so I feel like a message I need to get across in a few weeks to High School students should be worship.  Though its a term regularly used in Christian circles, do any of us really have a grasp as to what it REALLY means to worship our Creator, the God of the Universe?  I know I spend a lot of time feeling like I know what worship is supposed to look like and be on the outside, but find myself often longing to see it take place on the INSIDE… where it matters.  Busy-ness and everyday life tend to crowd in and distort my view and I think a lot of people might be able to identify with me on that.  I’m looking at The Air I Breathe by Louie Giglio and a few other sources for inspiration, and I would love to know your thoughts as they pertain to this concept of worship and what it truly means for all of us.

 

Here are some thoughts from Reid that I liked a lot:

“Your level of spiritual maturity and growth is not based on how loud you sing or how high you can raise your hands. But for many, many people, there comes a point in corporate or private worship when you choose to focus on God, and subsequently your soul connects with the Holy Spirit, and it moves you to an outward display of submission and adoration for your Savior. But all the while, the real connection takes place on the inside of you – in your spirit as you submit your will to God.

Our job as the Leaders and facilitators of these times of worship are to:

Encourage - Encouraging people to connect with God means that sometimes the Worship Leader, and even band and musicians, fill the role of a motivator (or, the dreaded term: cheerleader).

Enable - We give them a vehicle to do so via a well thought-out song set

Enhance - we enhance the corporate worship experience by playing the music WELL, by stimulating their brain and spirit through the best musicianship we are able to offer. You CAN worship with a poorly rehearsed band of hacks and off-pitch screamers – but it ain’t easy!!

Exit - It’s obviously ultimately not about us – the people on stage or running lights or the Front of House mix. It’s our ultimate goal to not be the show, but rather a means through which people are attracted and drawn to Christ. When we receive the glory, whether purposeful or not, then we’ve failed – big time.”

pics from Southside… some of my personal favs

Notes from the Willow Creek Leadership Summit 2008

ran across these notes from lifechurch.tv’s blog Swerve http://swerve.lifechurch.tv

 

this is what I am writing on a sticky note somewhere:

• What are we doing that we should stop doing?
• What is God trying to show you through your greatest limitation?
• What has God called you to do that you’re afraid to try?

and some other great things to think about:

“Obsession with the mission will produce growth.” ~Wendy Kopp

“Spiritual Leadership is the art of rallying people to stay connected to the Holy Spirit together.” ~John Burke

“Why is the Church the only place where segregation is OK?” ~Efrem Smith

“Your team or organization cannot have IT if you don’t have IT!” ~Craig Groeschel

“I wish we took being Christian as seriously as Marine’s take their job.” ~Chuck Colson

“In today’s society, criminals are never forgiven. Paul, Moses, and David were all murderers and are now considered saints.” ~Catherine Rohr

“True leaders are most fulfilled when they are motivating those they lead rather than by personal acheivement.” ~Brad Anderson

“I will refuse God nothing.” ~Mother Teresa

18 hrs in New York…

Road Trip!  Takin it back to the college day wild hairs, Katie and I got to experience New York City together for a few hours which ended up being a nice change of pace from the lake weekends here in GA.  

• A walk down Fifth Avenue
• 5 minute make-over for Katie from Saks
• chillaxin in Central Park
• and a sea lion that grabbed our attention
• not to mention the 3 hours of traffic we sat through making our way out to Jersey
• but we got a peak at the statue of Liberty along side some real life NYC fire fighters who were too hungry to take our picture

so to all those with thoughts of completely spontaneous, RANDOM trips:  WHY NOT TAKE ONE?