Wednesday Night Wrap-Up

It was so great to get back to some sort of normality last night after the chaos that the past couple of weeks has held.  Since last week was our Back 2 School bash (which was a great success) and two weeks ago we were out in San Antonio with our students who participated in National Teen Talent, it's been a while since I've been able to be a part of one of our regular midweek gatherings...and I must say that I have genuinely missed getting together and worshiping with our students.  Speaking of that, the worship was awesome last night and the band was on fire...set list was as follows:  All Because of Jesus, Sweetly Broken, Beautiful Jesus, All I Need Is You.  Everyone just came down front and worshiped together and it was great.  I also have to send out special props to Devin and Tory who were working it in the media department and helped us to pull off some great stuff. We started a new series last night called SCHOOLED, and I'm really excited about talking to the kids about the power of influence and starting this year off on the right foot.  And of course we saw a boost in attendance as school is kicking back into gear...and I hope that only continues to build over the next few weeks.  It was also a good transitional night for our new middle school students who had the opportunity to join us for the first time last night as well.  So, much thanks to everyone who helped us to pull off yet another successful evening at WNL, cause Lord knows I couldn't do it without you.

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Happy Birthday To My Wife

I am so fortunate and blessed to have the most awesome, amazing, beautiful, caring, incredible, loving, wonderful...oh, and did I mention beautiful, wife in the entire universe.  Trust me, I married way up.  Anywho, today is her Birthday...and I'm so very glad that she was born.  And I just wanted to give her a special shout-out on here and wish her a very Happy Birthday (even though she has to work today which kind of sucks) and tell her that I love her very much.  I also wanted let you know that you too can wish her a Happy Birthday by going here or here...DO IT!

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Book Review & GIVEAWAY

I have been fortunate enough to score an advanced copy of Mark Batterson's new book Wild Goose Chase, and even though I'm only about halfway through it, it has already begun to wreck me.  Wild Goose Chase is the sequel to Mark's previous best-selling book In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, which is an absolute great read in and of itself (if you haven't read it, I would highly encourage you to get your hands on a copy).  Mark serves as the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C., which is widely recognized as one of America's most innovative churches.  He is not only a great leader, pastor and author in the emerging church, but is also a blogging guru who I have followed for quite some time (check out his blog over @ evotional.com).  I really do enjoy reading just about anything that Mark writes about whether it be a book, a blog post, an article or whatever...he just has the gift to engage his audience by creatively communicating such relevant and life applicable truths.  In fact, so you can see what I'm talking about, here is an excerpt from the intro of Wild Goose Chase:

"Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something….

Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure."

Wild Goose Chase official release date is tomorrow, however, you can get your own free copy right here...because not only do I have a copy for myself but I also have a copy that I want to give away.  So in order to qualify and be entered to win all you have to do is leave me a comment under this post telling me your favorite recent read...and also be sure to include both your name and your email (even if you comment as anonymous).  Final drawing will be held on Thursday, Aug. 21st when I will pick a winner at random and then send you the book for free!  Good luck...and even if you don't win the free copy, do yourself a favor and go pick it up anyway.  For more information on the book visit www.chasethegoose.com.

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Link Love

Ok, so I hope that no one takes this offense to this post, because I can assure you that's not what's intended.  It's just that I've decided to clean house a little bit (on my blog that is), and as a result I've decided to reduce the size of my link lists (which you can find directly to the right of this post) that have started to become a little much.  Now don't get me wrong here cause I'm all about the link love, and so it's not like I'm gonna start deleting everyone and everything on here...however, I do have some new guidelines.  I have observed that there are several people that I have linked on here (some since the time origination of this site) who have not returned the same kind of love.  So my new requirement is simply this, if you would like for me to share a link on here for your blog then absolutely no problemo, all you have to do is do the same by sharing a link on your site that links people back to here...if not it's cool, we can still be friends.  Fair enough, right?  If you already have me linked on your site then no worries, your link on here will stay put.  Everyone else, if you'd like for me to share a link for your blog on here then just leave me a comment saying that you've linked me up on your site (which also includes the web address for your site so that I can return the favor).  Also, VERY IMPORTANTE, if you accidentally get deleted or if you already have me linked on your site and I do not currently have you linked on here PLEASE let me know asap so that I too can return the love.  Happy blogging everyone!

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Quote Of The Week

"There are no rules here. We're trying to accomplish something."
~ Albert Einstein

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Video Of The Week

I've had several of those instances that seemed like a great idea in my head...thankfully though, nothing to this magnitude has ever gone awry and been broadcast all over internet (however, that's not to say that it won't ever happen).

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BMP

Check out this video w/ Carlos Whittaker (Programming Director) and Jeff Henderson (Pastor) of Buckhead Church to see what they are cooking up next. This concept is totally out-of-the-box, and I guess that's why I absolutely love the idea of it...Jesus said, go out into the highways and byways and compel them to come in. Click here if you want to learn more about the Buckhead Music Project.

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The Shack

After hearing a ton about it, I decided to picked up "The Shack" by William P. Young right before we headed out of town for vacation.  I was able to read most of it while we were there...however, the couple weeks that we've been back have been insanely busy and it's just been sitting on my desk with a few chapters left to go.  Well today I carved out some time to finally finish it, and I must say that I have thoroughly enjoyed this read for the most part.  I know that there has been quite a bit of controversy surrounding the book since it's release, but I have to admit that I don't get what all the uproar is about...in fact, I probably would have enjoyed the book even more had there not been all the hype.  Anywho, the book is fiction and I believe that it does what fiction books are supposed to do...which are things like present a great story-line (in which it did) as well as touch on your emotions and inspire your imagination (and it definitely did both for me).  Seriously, it's not like I'm going to base my theological beliefs off of The Lord Of The Rings or even the Left Behind Series for that matter (both of which I really enjoyed), so why should this book be any different for that matter?  Even though I didn't necessarily agree with some of the theological issues that surfaced throughout the book, I do appreciate the fact that it caused me to think.  The Shack not only caused me to be more open minded but to also to re-examine the way that I have viewed God as a being altogether.  It left me with a desire and a longing to know more about the mysterious God that I serve, who may indeed be more different than anything that I could ever fathom in my own mind.  Now don't get me wrong, I don't believe that this book was flawlessly written by any stretch of the imagination, as some parts tended to be a little long and drawn out...it was however a very good read that I would recommend to anyone that is looking for a good fiction book with a fresh take on things.  I would also like to see The Shack converted to the big screen at some point in time...as I believe it would also make for a good flick.  So overall, I guess I have to give it about an A-...as well as give props to Young on a job well done.

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Guest Blog: Wednesday Night Wrap-Up

Since I was in San Antonio last week I wasn't able to be here at our midweek service...the awesome thing about that is that even when I'm not here things can just roll on totally normal as though I were. I am so blessed to be surrounded with such an awesome leadership team who is completely capable and willing to do absolutely anything that I need them to do. It really allows me the freedom to be able to leave and go to a conference, or go on a trip, or go speak at a camp and be fully at peace that everything is going to be totally taken care of whenever I'm gone. So the following posts is written by Joseph Grant (one of the finest leaders there is) who has totally helped me out numerous occasions throughout the summer...and I just wanted to take this opportunity to say that I really appreciate him all that he's done:

This Wednesday night’s youth service was definitely one to remember. For some people the final night of the series entitled "Made" might as well been called "a blast from the past." You see myself (Joseph Grant) and rock n' roll legend Randy Burris (ok so maybe he is just a legend to me, though I do feel he'd kick some serious booty on American Idol) were there together once again ministering to the youth at Mount Holly after what has been seemingly years since we officially worked together at that very place. It was quite a homecoming for Randy after many of the youth had not seen him there in quite some time. He led the praise and worship for the evening and I must say that he and the band definitely did an incredible job. He had the youth come all the way up to the front and jam out while he and the band led the students into an intense and pumped up praise set which ended with a very heartfelt worship time. I had the great privilege once again to speak to the youth of the church (thanks PJ) and wrapped up the Made Series covering the topic of "I Want To Be Used By God." I had a great time while speaking to the teens about their individual purposes and showing them how to truly be used by God. I do believe the teens had a good time as I attempted to make some points evident to them in some quite humorous and different ways about being used by God. The night was fun and exciting and I just again thank Josh and Joyce for allowing me to be a part of it. I even went all out and had some "Made" shirts made (humorous pun alert) for the evening and broke out one of my freshest jokes (you just have to know me). As the night came to a close and the 5-part series came to a conclusion I was just gracious for the few moments of prayer we all had together. As we all called out to God to instill within us all the intangibles needed to be used by Him, I felt as if the students truly left with a sense of really being "Made" into who God wants them to be.

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COG 72nd General Assembly Wrap-Up

Well I'm back in the office today for the first time after spending the past week in San Antonio, TX for the good old Church of God General Assembly. For you non-cog readers, the General Assembly is our denominations international convention that takes place every two (should have been four) years. For me the week shared both its pros and its cons...but overall, much to my surprise, I left rather encouraged about the direction that our church is heading as a whole, and the shift that seems taking place within our denomination.

There were several reasons that Joyce and I decided to make the trek out to San Antonio this time, one of the major reasons being our involvement with Teen Talent (which you can read more about in one of my previous posts here). Not only did we both judge several categories in the drama division, but our kids were also able to advance to the international level as well in one of the categories that they competed in at the state level. I must say that I was rather impressed with the caliber of competition as a whole this year...you could tell that all of the kids had worked extremely hard, and needless to say the bar was set rather high. However, our kids did an absolutely amazing job and received very high marks in one of the toughest and steepest categories of the whole competition...and we are all extremely proud of them and what they were able to accomplish.  As a side note, it was awesome to see the response of Teen Talent being webcast for the very first time with an average of 7,000 international viewers per day.

Aside from Teen Talent I was able to attend several of the business sessions during the week, where the general council votes both on the leadership within our denomination as well as other things such as any changes within our bylaws and so on and so forth. Usually these meetings consist of the same old song and dance (a lot of talk and no action)...however, this year some very crucial items that were on the agenda were both addressed and passed. And while I do still feel like we have a heck of a long way to go, I think that some of the things that took place could be used as a catalyst to point us in the right direction. In fact, while my desire to even be affiliated with our denomination (or any other denomination for that matter) has wavered heavily at times, I left inspired enough to pursue the fulfillment of my credentialing within the COG, so that I can actually have a say in what goes down next time around.

With all that we had going on we had just a very minimal amount of down-time...but in that, we tried to split the time equally between our kids, my family and getting to take in what we could of the beautiful and very HOT city of San Antonio. While I did meet my quota of Mexican food for the rest of the year, we did get to eat at some great spots (such as Rio Rio, Casa Rio, Boudro's & Achiote), as well as get to take in some of the sites that this beautiful city has to offer. This city is home to several historic sites such as The Alamo and the historic River Walk, which is where we spent most of our time. And although we've visited San Antonio on several occasions, we did enjoy getting to go back to visit and see what all had changed since the last time that we had been there (which wasn't much at all).

I guess I can say that even though the travel aspect of this trip was an absolute bear (see previous post), and even though I missed my daughter like crazy (but got to talk to her and see her everyday thanks to iChat), that overall the trip was a good experience...it was good to see some much needed changes begin to take place within our denomination, it was good to see and spend time with friends and family, it was good to see our kids and the rest of the COG young people from across the world using the gifts and the talents that God has equipped them with...but most of all, it was just good to get back home!  So until next time, adios.

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