This post will contain almost no new content, instead I just want to make an observation. Yesterday, I posted a funny video of one of the candidates for President, and I expected at least two or three comments. I figured I might get some negative comments from folks thinking I am endorsing Obama, or at least a comment or two from folks who found the video amusing. I mean the video was amusing for the simple fact that it featured a Rick Astley song! I'm not complaining I'm just surprised that I logged in this morning to find no (zero) comments. Maybe we are all just a little frightened to have an open discussion about politics for fear of being labeled "right wing" or "liberal". My philosophy is that there is enough goofiness in both parties to get lots of laughs out of.
By the way, I'm not endorsing Obama for President. If you are wondering who I am endorsing, I will reveal my choice for the Oval Office in a new post here on this blog in a couple of weeks.
There is one thing I want you to know about: It looks like you will be able to download any of the Sunday morning messages from Freedom on itunes very soon. We are working to have them available beginning the first week of September. I'll give you more info soon.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Rainy days
I can't get enough of this rain we're having! I find myself running to the window every time it starts like I can't believe it's real. At the risk of offending Sammy, who hates when church planters make everything on their blogs spiritual, seeing so much rain after a long time without it reminds me of a verse from Isaiah.
"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
- Isaiah 55:10-11
God's word (popularly known as the Bible) does for our life what the rain we've had this week does for the earth. It refreshes us, nourishes us, and helps us grow. The cool part about those verses is that God makes a promise that His word "will accomplish" what He desires. Pastors (of which I am now one) are often guilty of making people feel like they need our help to understand what the Bible really means. These verses remind us that God's word is a gift for everyone to have, and God will use His Spirit to speak to us as we read it.
Don't wait until Sunday to hear what the pastor has to say about God's word. Read it for yourself this week, and allow it accomplish the purpose God sent it for! You'll be glad you did.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Final Olympic thoughts
I was going to write this tomorrow, but I'll get it out of my mind today. Here are some of my final thoughts on the Olympics:
- NBC showed way too much diving and not enough cycling, boxing, judo, badminton, etc.
- It was exciting to see the lead singer of Fine Young Cannibals win the decathlon to become the worlds' greatest athlete.
- I enjoyed all two weeks of the Olympics this year, but it did lose a little excitement for me after Michael Phelps was finished. Winning by 1/100th of a second was one of the coolest things ever.
- Bob Costas dies his hair and eyebrows. Not that he shouldn't, I'm just saying I noticed it.
- Mary Carillo needs her own show. Her reports were usually funny and interesting. I especially enjoyed the one about kites and kite fighting.
- During the closing ceremonies the drummers in the middle of the arena formed a circle that looked just like a Bloomin' Onion to me. The more I watched the hungrier I got. I wonder how much Outback Steakhouse paid for that product placement?
- The next race I want to see is Usain Bolt vs. a cheetah.
- Now that the games are over I can get back to going to sleep at a reasonable hour.
- NBC showed way too much diving and not enough cycling, boxing, judo, badminton, etc.
- It was exciting to see the lead singer of Fine Young Cannibals win the decathlon to become the worlds' greatest athlete.
- I enjoyed all two weeks of the Olympics this year, but it did lose a little excitement for me after Michael Phelps was finished. Winning by 1/100th of a second was one of the coolest things ever.
- Bob Costas dies his hair and eyebrows. Not that he shouldn't, I'm just saying I noticed it.
- Mary Carillo needs her own show. Her reports were usually funny and interesting. I especially enjoyed the one about kites and kite fighting.
- During the closing ceremonies the drummers in the middle of the arena formed a circle that looked just like a Bloomin' Onion to me. The more I watched the hungrier I got. I wonder how much Outback Steakhouse paid for that product placement?
- The next race I want to see is Usain Bolt vs. a cheetah.
- Now that the games are over I can get back to going to sleep at a reasonable hour.
Congratulations, you made the team.
Yesterday as I walked around meeting folks after worship I was reminded of something that I have written on here earlier. There are new folks at worship every single week and, yesterday was no different. In fact there were more guests yesterday than usual.
Here's what you've read on here before, but I think we all need to be reminded of: We have a great Welcome Team who works hard each and every week to get the atrium area set-up, greet folks as they come in, make sure everyone has all the info they need, and just generally make guests feel welcome. To those of you on that team I want to say a big "Thanks", but even if you aren't serving on the Welcome Team you play a vital role in whether people feel welcome at Freedom or not.
If you are a regular Freedom attender I want to challenge you to greet and talk to at least one new person every single Sunday. Also, look for people in the atrium that look like they need information. Maybe they have slipped by our greeters and they don't know where to register their children for Break Free Kids or they don't where the auditorium is. There are lots of easy ways that you can help a guest find their way around and have a better worship experience.
In the coming weeks we are going to see an increase in the number of people at worship. The way we greet and welcome each person will make a huge impact on whether they choose to come back again the next week. Remember, doing church is a team sport and when it comes to making people feel welcome we are all on the team!
Here's what you've read on here before, but I think we all need to be reminded of: We have a great Welcome Team who works hard each and every week to get the atrium area set-up, greet folks as they come in, make sure everyone has all the info they need, and just generally make guests feel welcome. To those of you on that team I want to say a big "Thanks", but even if you aren't serving on the Welcome Team you play a vital role in whether people feel welcome at Freedom or not.
If you are a regular Freedom attender I want to challenge you to greet and talk to at least one new person every single Sunday. Also, look for people in the atrium that look like they need information. Maybe they have slipped by our greeters and they don't know where to register their children for Break Free Kids or they don't where the auditorium is. There are lots of easy ways that you can help a guest find their way around and have a better worship experience.
In the coming weeks we are going to see an increase in the number of people at worship. The way we greet and welcome each person will make a huge impact on whether they choose to come back again the next week. Remember, doing church is a team sport and when it comes to making people feel welcome we are all on the team!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Facebook and Life Groups
I've had a Facebook account for just a couple of months now. I was late getting on the internet connection site band wagon, but not that late for people my age. Now before you think that I'm a real forward thinking guy who understands the power of the internet, I didn't set up my account. I went to lunch one day, and when I walked back in the office Blake said, "You need a Facebook account so I went ahead and set you one up." My response was, "Why do I need a Facebook account?" Instead of trying to convince me he said, "Just try it out, and you'll see."
It didn't take long for me to see why being on Facebook was a good thing. It is one more way for me to connect with people. I can communicate with folks in a quick, easy to use format, and the biggest bonus of all is that I have been able to re-connect with friends I haven't seen in years as well. Just last week I found a friend of mine on Facebook that I grew up with that I haven't talked to in 20 years. Now we are sending each other messages to catch up on what we've missed in each other's lives.
No matter what other people use it for, (games, political agendas, etc.) Facebook for me is all about making connections. This Sunday at Freedom, you will have the opportunity to sign-up to be a part of a Life Group if you haven't already. Life Groups are all about helping you make connections with other folks at Freedom, and about helping you make a deeper connection with God. If you are nervous about signing-up because of past experiences or because you are just a private person by nature I would say the same thing to you about Life Groups that Blake said to me about Facebook: "Just try it and you'll see."
See you on Sunday!
It didn't take long for me to see why being on Facebook was a good thing. It is one more way for me to connect with people. I can communicate with folks in a quick, easy to use format, and the biggest bonus of all is that I have been able to re-connect with friends I haven't seen in years as well. Just last week I found a friend of mine on Facebook that I grew up with that I haven't talked to in 20 years. Now we are sending each other messages to catch up on what we've missed in each other's lives.
No matter what other people use it for, (games, political agendas, etc.) Facebook for me is all about making connections. This Sunday at Freedom, you will have the opportunity to sign-up to be a part of a Life Group if you haven't already. Life Groups are all about helping you make connections with other folks at Freedom, and about helping you make a deeper connection with God. If you are nervous about signing-up because of past experiences or because you are just a private person by nature I would say the same thing to you about Life Groups that Blake said to me about Facebook: "Just try it and you'll see."
See you on Sunday!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Football quotes
I can't help it, but since Michael Phelps is done at the Olympics I've really had football on the brain. Here are some great quotes that I ran across from old football coaches. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it."
- Lou Holtz
"I don't expect to win enough games to be put on NCAA probation. I just want to win enough to warrant an investigation." - Bob Devaney / Nebraska
"In Alabama, an atheist is someone who doesn't believe in Bear Bryant." - Wally Butts / Georgia
"I make my practices real hard because if a player is a quitter, I want him to quit in practice, not in a game." - Bear Bryant
"There's one sure way to stop us from scoring - give us the ball near the goal line."
- Matty Bell / SMU
"If lessons are learned in defeat, our team is getting a great education."
- Murray Warmath / Minnesota
This last one sounds more like a philosophy of how to live life not just play football.
"We live one day at a time and scratch where it itches." - Darrell Royal / Texas
Remember those words of wisdom as you carry out the tasks of today!
"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it."
- Lou Holtz
"I don't expect to win enough games to be put on NCAA probation. I just want to win enough to warrant an investigation." - Bob Devaney / Nebraska
"In Alabama, an atheist is someone who doesn't believe in Bear Bryant." - Wally Butts / Georgia
"I make my practices real hard because if a player is a quitter, I want him to quit in practice, not in a game." - Bear Bryant
"There's one sure way to stop us from scoring - give us the ball near the goal line."
- Matty Bell / SMU
"If lessons are learned in defeat, our team is getting a great education."
- Murray Warmath / Minnesota
This last one sounds more like a philosophy of how to live life not just play football.
"We live one day at a time and scratch where it itches." - Darrell Royal / Texas
Remember those words of wisdom as you carry out the tasks of today!
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