The Power of Hello

This past week I was at Conner Prairie. Every fall they have a fun event called the Headless Horseman. Its not just fun, its amazingly well orchestrated. The evening that I was there was PACKED ... and it was a weeknight! When I arrived with friends we were handed tickets for the 11pm hayride ... and its was only 630p!!! But, by giving us the tickets we had the opportunity to enjoy the evening festivities, then jump in line about 20 minutes before it was time for our hayride!

The evening was wonderful, but there was something that stood out to me more than the festivities. It was the people who were serving at the event. Normally, I'm the one saying hello and goodbye to families as they come into and out of our ministry area. But, this time it was me who was on the receiving end of it. As I was leaving I realized the importance and the power of the words. I felt that they truly cared about the people who were there and that they appreciated that we had come.

So, who are you saying something to? What are you saying? Making just that short connection can say a lot about the ministry ... are you reaching out to families each weekend? It certainly leaves an impact and my evening at Conner Prairie was a great reminder that my words do not fall on deaf ears!

Thursday's Tip

I came across this great article from Waumba Land @ Northpoint Community Church! Take a few minutes to read it, there are some great ideas and tips on children and behavior!

Kids and Behavior Issues - Part 1

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Wordless Wednesday

Wordle

This is a fun website I came across the other day! Ever wondered what words you use repeatedly on your blog? Check out Wordle!

I'm A Mac

I LOVE Macs ... there was little to think about for me when it was time for a new computer about a year ago and honestly I've never regretted it! Their creativity is great too :-) With the release of Windows 7 last week, it gave Mac a whole new set of commercials to develop :-)

Solo Sunday

Lectio Divina: its the ancient method of reading, thinking, praying, and living Scripture. Basically, its developing a conversation between you and God.

During the recent RESET Series I have been challenged to really take a close look at my quiet time with God. To really dive in and develop it into what He wants it to be, not what I want it to be - how fast or slow or deep or shallow or existent or nonexistent I want. It's not about me or my comfort ... its about developing an ongoing conversation with God between me and Him.

There are 365 "devotions" within Solo:Remix, based around The Message Bible, thought, prayer, and living out faith. But, every 7th day is missing ... its a time to go back over the previous week, reflect on it, and just talk to God. I'm hoping to use Solo Sundays as a time to reflect about what God is doing.

So, look for weekly Solo Sundays as I hope to share with you what God is doing and maybe even cause you to reflect on what He is doing in your own life!

Tanker Explosion

If you didn't hear ... there was a HUGE Tanker Truck Explosion on the northeast side of Indianapolis yesterday ... check out these incredible photos! And hopefully the loop will be open soon - its going to make for a long drive to the south side tomorrow :-(

I-69 & I-465 explosion from readers and Star staff - More The Indianapolis Star Galleries

View this gallery at The Indianapolis Star: I-69 & I-465 explosion from readers and Star staff

RESET

The Prayer Experience @ NVCL was pretty cool. Beyond anything it was peaceful, relaxing, and a time when I was able to focus on nothing else ... except God! I really enjoyed the time to get back on track and reset the assumptions that I've carried about Jesus for a long time. It did a great job pulling out the things that you don't even think of ... it goes beyond the obvious and really digs at the heart.

On the way home I was listening to a "take home" CD about prayer and it was going through P.R.A.Y.

P - Praise God for who He is

R - Repent of any sins in your life

A - Ask ... boldly ask God

Y - Yield ... just be quiet and listen, give God and opportunity to answer

To be honest I'm terrible at the Y ... I can't even listen to an entire song on the radio - even my favorite song, so its especially hard for me to just sit and be quiet waiting for a potential answer from God.

Tonight though, I was determined to make it through all four parts of the prayer activity. I was listening to the CD and was trying to spread it out over the course of my approx 15 minute drive home. Granted, I might have rushed a little and was already at the Y part of the CD with several minutes still left in my drive. After listening and sitting quietly for a couple minutes I decided to turn off the CD and turn on the radio ... it was then that God answered my prayers. I had boldly asked God about a couple things that I'm dealing with right now ... and His answer? "It's all going to be okay" .... as I turned on the radio my favorite song was on, it was almost as if it was waiting for me to turn it on and those were the first words I heard! God is amazing and He works in and through us in amazing ways!

Take a few minutes to listen to this song ...

Jim Abbott

Find something you love,

and go after it, with all of your heart

- Jim Abbott

Do you know who Jim Abbott is? I fell in love with his story of overcoming the odds when I was a young child. Jim Abbott was a pitcher in the major leagues who only had one hand. He was told so many times that he couldn't follow his dreams and that he wouldn't be able to play baseball.

Looking back on my childhood I can see how my story was much like his. I heard the statistics over and over again that I wasn't going to amount to much because my parents were divorced, that I'd end up in the same situation, that I wouldn't finish high school or go to college ... but through stories like this of determination I set my mind to overcoming the statistics and not becoming one of them.

Who inspired you as a child? Who's story can you relate to that helped you be who you are today? Who are your creating a story for?

Wordless Wednesday

#46

Please continue to pray for my friends who are adopting from Ethiopia. They received word last week that they are #46 ... that means there are 45 families in line before them awaiting their referrals also. Please pray for all these families and all of the children who they will be bringing home!

Here's a quick video they put together...

You can follow their story and help them adopt at www.longingforafrica.com

A Sad Day in Buckeye Land...

I had the chance to go to the Ohio State vs. Purdue game on Saturday ... it should have been a great day and an easy win, but in the end it wasn't :-(

Saturday's Song

Slow Down

This past week I ventured out to Parke County. It's west of Indianapolis and is full of small towns, curvy country roads, and covered bridges. It's a beautiful area and I had been there once before, but never for the Covered Bridge Festival. It's a festival that is apparently famous around the country and is on of the largest in the United States! There were vendors from everywhere!

On the suggestion of a friend, my mom and I went to the town of Bridgeton. I had been here before when I wanted to get away from the city a few months ago. When I came upon Bridgeton there was a new bridge next to the covered bridge. It looked like all the others I had stopped and taken pictures of, so I just glanced and kept driving.

However, Thursday we walked to the other side of the bridge and what I saw was beautiful. There was a waterfall just under the bridge - it was an incredible sight.

I was immediately reminded that I need to slow down and take the time to enjoy the small things in life. That day a few months ago I raced on past, hurrying off to other things, instead of stopping and taking the time to take a look at the bridge. It wasn't just like the other bridges, what I missed was one of the most beautiful sights in the whole county!

What are you missing as you race about in your everyday life? Take time this week to slow down, and look for the details in the things around you!

“Always remember to slow down in life; live, breathe, and learn; take a look around you whenever you have time and never forget everything and every person that has the least place within your heart.”

-Unknown

The Wedding

This past weekend my brother got married. He and his wife met at Cedarville University in Ohio. In all, it was a great weekend filled with amazing friends and a wonderful wedding ... in a VERY cold Chicago!

Here's a few pics from the day...

Wordless Wednesday

CTA Part 2

Alright, so like I said ... just say things with confidence :-)

Well, after the excitement of the taxi cab we arrived at O'Hare ... where we found a train and started to board, however I soon realized it was the train to the parking lot ... not the city! So, off to find the CTA train we went! We were in the wrong part of the airport which meant about a 20-minute walk to the train station where we bought our farecards and headed for the train. Now, in my previous experiences the train stations are well layed out with maps available for you to take and plan your trip while you ride the train. So, that was my plan ... grab a map, get on the train, and figure it out ... but not so fast. Chicago doesn't give out fun little maps showing you the city and the sites of interest.

So, at O'Hare the train only runs one direction ... into the city ... so we got on the train. Quickly to be ushered off the train by CTA Staff. I didn't mind the extra wait, but for the people from Chicago they were not at all happy!

Finally, after waiting several minutes we were allowed to board the train and begin our trip downtown. The trip was uneventful and after about an hour ride I guessed that we should exit at The Loop and begin walking towards Lake Shore Drive (after I asked a lady which direction that was just to find out we were walking the wrong way).

So, after an afternoon downtown the trip home begins...

CTA

Chicago. Transit. Authority.

Enough said.

No seriously, I'm pretty sure the mafia is still running parts of the city.

I went downtown yesterday to walk around and we took the train to get there.

Now, if you say anything with confidence others believe you know what you're doing ... so that's what I did as I said "let's take the train".

Now, there was so much more to "let's take the train". First, we had to get to the train, then get a fare card, get on the train, ride the train, get off the train, and then once again find the train and get on it in order to complete our trip. I mean, that's all simple ... I've done it in DC tons of times, so why would Chicago be any different?

Our excursion began with quite the sight in the parking lot of our hotel. The hotel runs a shuttle to the airport (also the end of the train line) every hour. So, when we showed up for the 2p shuttle ... the hotel employee informed us that ... "2p is the only hour the shuttle doesn't run, but don't worry. I've called a taxi."

Oh no! A taxi I thought ... I've never been in a taxi, but how bad could it be.

Well, this is where the mafia part comes in as we're waiting for a taxi. We have our voucher sine its on the hotel for not running their shuttle. Well, TWO taxis pull up and the drivers begin to argue over who is suppose to take us to the airport ... finally one of the drivers threatens to arrest the other driver which causes the driver who wasn't suppose to be there to leave.

Now, that we're in the correct taxi and the police haven't been called we speed off to chicago o'hare ... where we begin our trip downtown...

stay tuned for the rest of the story ... its a good one :-)

Prayer

Do you ever find yourself praying for someone ... but in a secret way hoping that you're not part of God's answer. We all do it ... "Dear God, I pray you would surround this person with positive influences, etc" It's hard sometimes to say ... "Dear God, I pray that I would be a positive influence in this person's life"

This blog post by Jon Acuff (stuffchristianslike.net) really got me thinking about how many times I am guilty of this ... instead of praying for someone, I should be praying about how God can use me in the solution! Click the link below to read Jon's thoughts on this...

Praying that God will fix a situation as long as you’re not part of the solution.

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The Millennials

Known as the "Millenials" but also the "Trophy Kids" my generation is the next one to begin bringing kids through children's ministries across the US ... so how do we reach this new group or parents? Here's a great article explaining more about this generation that is more connected and technologically advanced than ever before.

Relevant Children's Ministry: Millennial Parents...Do You Know Them?

Think Orange

The Church - Yellow - God's light to the world

The Family - Red - Unconditional love

Together red+yellow = orange ... BUT its so much more! The family AND the church is the hope of tomorrow, not just the church or just the family. Together anything is better than when its alone.

I just finished reading Think Orange by Reggie Joiner. It is a candid, easy read about a very deep journey of moving towards a family ministry model where both the church and the family see one another as partners ... not experts. In the book there are many great ideas and thought provoking concepts. You won't find "the answer", but you will find thoughts that will get you thinking and evaluating yourself, your ministry, and the partnership between the family and the church.

It's a great read for anyone in any type of ministry ... staff or volunteer or any parent!

Wordless Wednesday

Kate

Kate is back in the hospital for a third round of chemotherapy. You can follow her here ... www.caringbridge.com/mcraekate Please pray for her and her family. Currently, since its flu season, her two siblings can't be at the hospital.

White River State Park

Have you ever been to the National Mall in Washington DC ... the open space in the middle of the big city busyness is AMAZING! Well here in Indy there's something a lot like the National Mall, but maybe just a bit smaller. Just to the west of downtown is White River State Park. Yes, a state park nestled right in the middle of downtown. Its a great place to just go enjoy a beautiful day! I love going down there to walk, ride, or just sit. Today was gorgeous here in the midwest, so I took advantage of the day and headed downtown!

Sidewalk Prophets

Ever heard of them? Me neither, but you might recognize their new song. The video quality isn't that great, but its the only one they have out right now. Enjoy the song.

Homecoming

This weekend is Homecoming at Cedarville University ... which is where I spent my college years! Its an amazing school that taught me more than just education ... it taught me a lot about life too. I'm kind of bummed that I can't go back this weekend and see all my friends, but that would have left me being gone every weekend this month - in the midst of some responsibility changes at work ... so it just didn't work out ... but hopefully next year I'll be able to make it!

The Office - Fire drill

Last weekend the fire alarm went off at church. It was exactly 10:45am ... yes, the exact start time of our largest service! There's been a lot of talk lately about fire procedures and plans because well, this was probably the 4th time its been pulled in the last 6-7 weeks ... during the 1045a service! As we cleared the building, including the hundreds of children inside, I couldn't help but think of the Fire Drill on The Office ... enjoy a good laugh :-)

The Office - Fire drill

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What Faith Can Do

This is Kutless' brand new single ... it's an amazing song that takes me back to difficult times in my own life and reminds me about all the things that God can do ... and has done!