4 and 0 Baby!!!

What a great day, watching the Cowboys win again! Even though I was unable to be in the Stadium today, like other more fortunate people. I was able to enjoy the victory with a small group of friends after scoring a touchdown with today's message. Am I right, ladies?

Thanks Clay, for working out the song to kick off the series. I thought it went over well.

Everyone, let me know what you think about the boys and "Take it to the Limit"!

Troy Gramling @ Innovate 07

Troy Gramling, Pastor of Flamingo Roadhttp://www.flamingoroad.org in Fort Lauderdale, spoke this weekend at Innovate 07 a church leadership conference sponsored by Ganger Community Church. I was not able to attend the conference in person, but I was able to catch several sessions due to My Naked Pastor.com. That's right, I said it! My Naked Pastor.com is the brainchild of Troy and his creative team that takes you into the fishbowl 24/7. Full access to Troy's life as a pastor is available for the world to see. This is beyond authenticity. Check it out @ http://www.mynakedpastor.com .

Troy spoke about Innovated Transformation on Friday as the camera that follows his every move was placed on stage for one of the best seats in the house. Oh yeah, he provided his notes for us on his blog http://www.troygramling.com . They went something like this....


Innovation can sometimes feel like being naked in a public place.

-INNOVATION TRANSFORMATION-

EARS –
Traditional Ears listen to everyone.
Innovative Ears LIMIT who they listen to.

People have equal value but NOT equal priority.

If you listen to everyone you won’t hear anyone.

How do I determine who I listen to…

Do they BELIEVE in me?
Do they LOVE me?
Do they have MORE WISDOM than me?

EYES –
Traditional Eyes broaden my focus and narrow my influence
Innovative Eyes narrow my focus while broadening my influence

Protecting the Vision
Producing the Product
Pushing Out the Values


HANDS –
Traditional hands work on today’s task
Innovative hands are executing for tomorrow

Today’s success or failure is the result of yesterday’s execution

FEET –

Traditional Feet make the next step a big step to prove you love God.
Innovative Feet make the next step small because the goal is to love God.
Always thinking: What is the NEXT step?


BRAIN (OR THINKING) –

Traditional thinking – God blesses a method.
Innovative thinking – God blesses a person.

Do you know who YOU are?

No they went something just like that. Great job, Troy! Encouraging, Vulnerable, and Honest. You brought it home with your closing story about Adrian.

After a long hiatus

After a long hiatus, I've been inspired to pick back up with my blogging. Lots going on and not sure where to start. For the past couple of days my staff has been in Chicago attending Willow's small group conference. So there's lots of solitude around the office. I'll be glad when they get back refuled and recharged and ready for action.
Starting a new series this Sunday. We'll be looking at why our lives are so stressed and that we have no time to truly enjoy life. So if you have any suggestions, comments, or helps please leave a comment.

Horatio Gates Spafford, thanks

I just purchased a new CD from the artist Chris Rice entitled Peace like a River. It is a collection of some of his favorite hymns and spirituals. One of my favorite songs on the album is his rendition of “It is Well with My Soul”. This song, birthed out of extreme loss, written in 1873 contains lyrics that still have tremendous impact today.

I think the intent of Rice’s album is to underscore the vocalist and musical composition altogether and concentrate upon the lyrics of the songs. Bringing to the forefront what is actually being communicated within these rich and timeless tunes. Although I do not mean this article to be a review, the CD is a refreshing surprise and well worth picking up.

Within the title track “Peace like a River”, the third verse of the song really grabs my attention. The author begins to write out the lyrics to this stanza and we start to see and hear and experience his thought process in the moment he puts pen to paper. He writes “My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin …” For years singing this hymn in the church pew, I missed it. I missed it due either to my immaturity or apathy or perhaps my ADD kicking in. Is it just me or have others missed it as well? If not, then how come no one explained it to me before? Maybe because they missed it too. Missed what? This.

He writes “My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin …”

Do you see what happens here? He begins the line that reads “My sin not in part but the whole…” And before he has completed the thought on paper he is so caught up in the absolute rapture of what’s being said and what has been done that he’s overwhelmed with joy. He is taken back by the fact of what he is about to write that he cannot finish the thought with out responding. Responding to the notion of what Jesus Christ has done that he stops what he is writing and places that personal worship thought right into the song itself.

“My sin, Oh the bliss of this glorious thought!” What thought? What glorious thought?

“My sin not in part but the whole is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.”

The glorious thought is that Jesus has taken on the punishment rightly due for my rebellion and paid in full the price for my freedom. That is why I can sing it is well with my soul.

5 pathetic reason to read anything I write

1. To gain deep intellectual and spiritual insight.
2. To keep abreast of current culture.
3. High dollar cash giveaways.
4. The appreciation of sarcastic wit.
5. It's a great way to waste time at work while giving the appearance that you're actually engaged in something productive.