Weekend Highlights

Weekend recap:

OSU dominated a rather weak Michigan team. Amber noted it was the first time she had seen me eat during a Michigan game. I guess it was b/c I’ve never been so comfortable. Even though the outcome was enjoyable, watching it was just bizarre. I’m not convinced Rich Rod will turn the team around. Previously I thought he would, and maybe over time, but I think it’ll take at least 4 years before Michigan is really upper-tier again.

Apex Community Church in Kettering / Dayton Ohio – Centerpoint’s team minus our fave Johnny Ropple visited this church. Very young, very relavant, very real. They’ve created an authentic community of Christ followers w/out what we would deem an edgy, hip building. As CVB commented, “goes to show you that you really need to focus on building authentic community and relationships.”

AMA’s – Kanye wants to be Elvis. I’m pretty sure that’s not relevant, but Kanye’s a straight goofball and filled with quotes that genuinely make me scratch my head.

Browns – nope

BCS – I hope for more carnage & chaos. System is outdated and must be revamped to include some playoff system. Until a year or so ago, I was a bowl guy, no not now, too many quality teams deserve a shot. Penn State lost to a decent team on the road, FL loses to a comparable team at home. OU will trump Texas eventually if they win out. Tex Tech actually has a legit shot of getting back in title game – even after getting waxed by about 3 million points.

It’s THANKSGIVING week – in other words GIVE THANKS b/c truly as Americans, as westerners, more importantly, as followers of Christ – we have way too much we could ever repay.

OHIO STATE VS MICHIGAN

It’s here, the greatest weekend & rivalrly in college football. Throw records out the window (but still mention 3-8). I want to see this early and often.

Catalyst One Day

As you know, yesterday Christopher & I traveled to Granger Community Church in Granger, IN (very cool & creative building btw) to attend Catalyst One Day event featuring Craig Groeschel and Andy Stanley. Below are the highlights and what I learned.

 

·        Craig & Andy are phenomenal speakers, have amazing abilities to lead and communicate, and neither are afraid to be innovative with their church concepts

·        There is no nicely packed formula to do certain things

·        You must know the vision God has given you, trust the vision, and surround yourself with people who trust the vision

·        Every program or ministry you have must support and enhance the vision. If not, then it’s not worth having.

·        If you want people to do certain things, it’s your job as a leader to lead them there and you better be doing those things in your personal life too

·        Centerpoint’s own Johnny Ropple got to be on stage with Andy & Craig!

Reflections

Over the last several weeks, I have done a lot of reflecting. My wife tells me I am too hard on myself and I tell her that it’s my job to evaluate what I do and what I say. Lately I’ve taken a look at things I have graciously learned over the last two years – and most likely it’s taken me the entire two years to learn them. Insert slow-learner jokes here _____ .  Let me offer you a few notables:

• Use wisdom with whom I talk to.
• Use wisdom and be accountable for things I say and do.
• Even when things are said in proper context, an isolated version of it can leave a mess.
• A professor once told me a text without a context is pretext. Ensure everything is said while looking at the entire picture.
• Stay passionate yet remain humble. Never let anyone confuse my zeal for arrogance.
• Don’t nitpick at small things.
• Stay true to who I am. Stay true to my convictions. Learn to communicate better.
• Pray – enough said.

In Proverbs the author encourages us to trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Catalyst One Day

On Wednesday night Christopher & I will drive about 5 1/2 hours to Indiana so we can attend the Catalyst conference on Thursday. I’m jacked about the meeting and hearing from the likes of Andy Stanley and Craig Groeschel, and Steve Fee leading some worship.

Will be a busy two days but we’ll gain a ridiculous amount of information for Centerpoint’s organizational momentum as we prepare to launch full-time in a matter of weeks.

Keep the wife & kids in prayer – probably more the wife than kids. Pray that the Holy Spirit guides us in knowledge and that we obtain & retain all that we need to bring back to Ohio with us.

Gracias!

Buckeye Rant

This really could be a practical lesson in life – TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

Ohio State Buckeyes need to beat Michigan this weekend. Okay fine, do it. But in order to reach the Rose Bowl, they need Michigan State to beat Penn State – something OSU didn’t do at home with the game in control late in the game. In order to reach a BCS at-large game, potentially facing Texas, Texas Tech, or loser of Alabama/Florida, Ohio State needs Oregon State to lose one of its final 2 games and USC to win out. At this point, I really don’t expect Oregon State drops a game nor do I believe MSU beats PSU. This likely means Ohio State will play Georgia or LSU in the Capital One Bowl……. blah

But ya know what, take care of b’ness – IT’S MICHIGAN WEEK

Sacred Moments

I’m one of those that believe that every breath is sacred and precious, that every moment we experience has been divinely given to us. Many times in all our busyness, routines, we miss out on those moments that constantly surround us.

Yesterday, Amber & I took our boys to Chick Fil A for lunch. Isaiah loves to play on the jungle gym on the inside of the place – and well, we actually love that place like little else. So we ate then Isaiah went inside to play with 4 or 5 other kids. Chick Fil A is a Christian-owned business and has a pleasant atmosphere on the inside as they typically play modern worship songs.

So here I am listening to Mercy Me’s newest song followed by Phil Wickhams true love song. And I’m watching Isaiah who we were told was not likely to survive the NICU, who we were told one night the docs had done all they could, was in bad shape and might not make it. And here he is interacting and playing with other kids his age. And I’m watching Noah who turned 6 months today who we were told might not make it full term. And I’m watching Amber who has endured 4 pregnancies and has 2 living sons. And I’m so proud of them all. I’m proud to be a father watching his miracle sons, I’m proud to be a husband married to a strong woman of faith. Most importantly, I’m proud to be a part of a Heavenly Family where we can put all our hope, all our trust, all our shortcomings & struggles. I’m proud, humbled & honored that the Divine allows me to partake of sacred moments.

Acceptance

In Matthew 9, we read a short story of Jesus eating with tax collectors. We know he also ate with prostitutes (something I don’t recommend doing w/out your wife’s approval), and other sinners. He also ate at times with Jewish leaders & teachers. As we know it, Jesus was a conversationalist, deeply motivated by grace. This particular instance though enraged the Jewish leaders.

In western, post-modern cultures, sharing a meal inside another’s home lacks the symbolic meaning it did in the middle-east during Jesus’ day. While there seems to be a shift in the meaning of eating together, it isn’t the same as back then.

The Jewish leaders were outraged, in no possible way should Jesus ever eat with sinners, or outsiders, or gentiles, I believe anyone outside the Jewish world was called a dog. They, them, those, they aren’t us. Anybody not us doesn’t belong eating our food or sitting at our tables. Oh and don’t forget, the tax collectors. Tax collectors were Jewish people who worked under the Roman Empire – they were detestable traders, pure scum of the earth.

More quick back-drop. Two sets of Jews in that time. One decided to completely cleanse themselves from the outside world and the others devoted themselves to strict legalism hoping to purify their race and culture..  both agreed, no outside contact, no eating with sinners, no eating with prostitutes, and definitely no eating with tax collectors.

Why? Because eating with someone meant you accept them for who they are. Typically, our mindset, and the Jews, was we could potentially allow this but only after they, them, those, anybody but us go through some purification legalism, then maybe we forgive them. Only after forgiveness may we accept them into our family.

So picture Jesus, profoundly demonstrating he accepts outsiders into his family before  he forgives them.

Today, may you be encouraged that no matter what, you are accepted into Jesus’ family. May you be challenged to accept they, them, those, anybody but us into your family.

Raising the Bar

A couple months or so ago, Amber & I came across a new show on TNT. I believe we caught the 2nd pilot episode and we became immediate fans. This is a drama involving the in-court and out-of-court relationships between Prosecutors, Defense Attorneys, and the Judges. Thus far, this has been a quality show dealing with justice, culture issues, with good charactor development. Monday they aired the Season Finale and I assume early 09 will be the 2nd season. Check out free full episodes at tnt.tv

And yes by looking at the picture, that is Zach Morris from Saving the Bell. He’s the lead actor and though his character is somewhat goofy, he’s actually playing the role well and is quite compassionate with justice and integrity.

America – YOU decided history

November 4, 2008 has come & gone. Hard to believe this insanely long political election process has finally come to an end. Quick thoughts from last night.

This is an important time in our history

Voting an African American to the White House is an achievement

Considering 200 years ago African Americans were considered 3/5ths a person..That’s right, less than human

Obama, I believe will be a unifier

He gave an eloquent speech, unlike President Bush’s 2004 mandate speech

Obama focused on being everyone’s president, hearing all voices, working together

agree or disagree, President Elect Obama says we need to work together

“As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.”

I’m excited about the potential for young & old, black, white, hispanic, asian, rich & poor, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, atheists to come together to work for the common good. Not only is this America’s time to shine, but this is the Church’s time to shine like never before. It’s time for the church’s mantra to be yes we can because we have faith, hope, and the love of Christ.