Kudos to the reThink team at Northpoint for providing the Orange Conference online this year!
If you're interested in hearing some of the top speakers in the country go to...
www.makingoforange.com
for live streaming of the conference!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
The Past 8 Weeks
For those of you who don't know, the past 8 weeks have been some of the busiest most amazing weeks of my life! It all began the last weekend of Februray when we did this and has continued in a way that only God could carry on. We've seen this and these and even a marching band. Ultimately though, I've witnessed changed life after changed life.
This past weekend we welcomed more than one thousand kiddos through the doors and thousands more adults. The last eight weeks have been nothing short of experiencing God in a constant way.
Yet, through it all God has been working on me. Its a work that isn't finished, but that seriously began last fall when I transitioned from overseeing 3-5's to 0-5's ... a transition I was ready for, but that would have never done on my own ... God knew that. I enjoy having the control, knowing exactly what's going to happen and how it's going to happen. Knowing that rooms are well covered for weekends and that everyone knows exactly what to do, but that's what God has been working on me about. And in a lot of ways He's taken all control away. It's hard to grow quickly and stay in complete control. But, that's ok, because its really not me who needs the control ... it's God.
So, for all of us control freaks leading ministries, families, lives ... take my advice ... just let God have the control ... its so much easier that way :-)
And with that, I'm going to get back on the blogging train ... sharing thoughts and life ... instead of trying to control what's happening :-)
This past weekend we welcomed more than one thousand kiddos through the doors and thousands more adults. The last eight weeks have been nothing short of experiencing God in a constant way.
Yet, through it all God has been working on me. Its a work that isn't finished, but that seriously began last fall when I transitioned from overseeing 3-5's to 0-5's ... a transition I was ready for, but that would have never done on my own ... God knew that. I enjoy having the control, knowing exactly what's going to happen and how it's going to happen. Knowing that rooms are well covered for weekends and that everyone knows exactly what to do, but that's what God has been working on me about. And in a lot of ways He's taken all control away. It's hard to grow quickly and stay in complete control. But, that's ok, because its really not me who needs the control ... it's God.
So, for all of us control freaks leading ministries, families, lives ... take my advice ... just let God have the control ... its so much easier that way :-)
And with that, I'm going to get back on the blogging train ... sharing thoughts and life ... instead of trying to control what's happening :-)
Labels:
Life,
Ministry,
Never Letting Go,
Studio 6.7
Monday, April 26, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
My Church
This past weekend was powerful ... not that the last six or so haven't been. So, maybe the better way to put it is that this past weekend was extra powerful. Yet, I don't know that it was actually what happened in the service that struck me as one of the most powerful parts ... its actually what will happen next week and the weeks to come.
Before reading on, do me a favor and watch this. Don't just be overcome by the power of the moment, but ask yourself what your response would be if that was your friend, your small group leader, your child's sunday school teacher walking across the stage...
...and that is one thing that I LOVE about my church. More than 40 people told their story on stage last weekend ... they didn't think twice about people's reactions to their story, they knew that their story is part of God's story, so they proudly walked across the stage last weekend to exclaim what God has done!
And this weekend ... they won't be outcast, but will instead be loved and embraced by their friends and others they may not know as we rejoice together over the work that God is doing. I don't know about you, but I think it takes a lot of courage to do that, but thankfully I've found a place where you can be exactly who you are and you'll be loved just because God loves you.
Before reading on, do me a favor and watch this. Don't just be overcome by the power of the moment, but ask yourself what your response would be if that was your friend, your small group leader, your child's sunday school teacher walking across the stage...
...and that is one thing that I LOVE about my church. More than 40 people told their story on stage last weekend ... they didn't think twice about people's reactions to their story, they knew that their story is part of God's story, so they proudly walked across the stage last weekend to exclaim what God has done!
And this weekend ... they won't be outcast, but will instead be loved and embraced by their friends and others they may not know as we rejoice together over the work that God is doing. I don't know about you, but I think it takes a lot of courage to do that, but thankfully I've found a place where you can be exactly who you are and you'll be loved just because God loves you.
Labels:
Bible,
Life,
Ministry,
Monster Suits,
Never Letting Go
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Thursday's Tip
No, I haven't quit blogging, just have had a bit of writer's block lately and since life has been pretty busy, I haven't really stopped to think about what I should write.
However, I had an experience this past week that I want to share, because I think its something that we should be mindful of.
After three years at my current apartment, it's time for a change ... so in a few months I'll be moving into a brand new place. Now, the place I'm at has been juts fine, but the new place has a little more to offer, so I'm choosing to move - in the end, its going to be a better fit for me.
Which, brings me to what I want to share...
"It's going to be a better fit for me" ... there's lots of reasons why, and I won't bore you with all the details, but that's what it comes down to - and sometimes I hear volunteers say that when choosing to serve in another ministry, age level, or even service time. When I hear that from someone I honor it, I don't question it - I know that between them and God, they know what's best. So, on a weekly basis I have these types of conversations.
This past week I had to have the conversation with my current place about moving and well, it was met with friction and an attempt to nearly beg me to stay where I am ... listing all the "bad" things they had heard ... it literally made me WANT to move.
Yet, it was such a reminder of what people want to hear ... we all want to be encouraged to do what is best, not questioned and begged to stay. So, let this be a reminder that as you work with other's, encourage them to do what's best ... for them ... even if that means you might lose them in your ministry area ... maybe God has something better for them ... don't get in the way of that!
However, I had an experience this past week that I want to share, because I think its something that we should be mindful of.
After three years at my current apartment, it's time for a change ... so in a few months I'll be moving into a brand new place. Now, the place I'm at has been juts fine, but the new place has a little more to offer, so I'm choosing to move - in the end, its going to be a better fit for me.
Which, brings me to what I want to share...
"It's going to be a better fit for me" ... there's lots of reasons why, and I won't bore you with all the details, but that's what it comes down to - and sometimes I hear volunteers say that when choosing to serve in another ministry, age level, or even service time. When I hear that from someone I honor it, I don't question it - I know that between them and God, they know what's best. So, on a weekly basis I have these types of conversations.
This past week I had to have the conversation with my current place about moving and well, it was met with friction and an attempt to nearly beg me to stay where I am ... listing all the "bad" things they had heard ... it literally made me WANT to move.
Yet, it was such a reminder of what people want to hear ... we all want to be encouraged to do what is best, not questioned and begged to stay. So, let this be a reminder that as you work with other's, encourage them to do what's best ... for them ... even if that means you might lose them in your ministry area ... maybe God has something better for them ... don't get in the way of that!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Go Butler!!!
Yay for the Butler Bulldogs from Indy ... good luck on Monday night in the National Championship!!!
Labels:
Life
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