LifeChurch.tv Albany

On Sunday, Madison and I went down to LifeChurch.tv’s Albany campus to see my friend Josh (Pastor Josh) in action leading his church/campus.  For over three years I have been either a weekly podcast listener, online message watcher, Internet Campus attender or Network Church leader.  However, I had yet to actually attend a physical LifeChurch.tv experience…until now.  It was killer! 

From A to Z, the first impression, personal greeting/service, child/youth experience, quality of musical worship, pastoral greeting/closing, message content (the message was gut checking - ”Practical Atheist”) and overall vibe were ROCKIN’!  They have “IT.”  The only thing that is lacking are the thousands of area lives that don’t know about Jesus or LifeChurch.tv. 

It’s cool to know that there are two churches in Albany that are rocking it for Jesus!  My buddy Brian Howe leads a church right up the street doing the very same thing (Northway Church)!  Keep it rolling guys… God is clearly on the move in Albany!

Dark Dining

On Saturday night, Molly and I went to a fundraising dinner to benefit the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI).  The event was called “Dark Dining.” 

It was incredible! 

We were led blind folded into a curtained banquet hall by a trained guide and “dropped off” at our table.  There was no instruction, no hand holding, NO PEEKING and no sight (obviously).  We proceeded to have an hour and a half 4 course dinner while blind.  (Because I couldn’t see, I couldn’t take a picture of us – this is a Google pic)  During the night, they provided entertainment of varying genres and quality (it was interesting to see who the performers were when we took off our masks).  Some of the take away highlights were:

• It is easier to eat salad with your hands.
• When you think you are cutting a bite sized piece of steak…think again…it’s just as likely to be the size of your fist.
• Buttering your bread is unbelievably difficult. 
• The room sounded like a high school cafeteria…people were having so much fun while making perfectly good fools of themselves.
• When I removed my blindfold my fork and half of my vegies were on the floor, two of my potatoes were on the tablecloth (speaking of tablecloth, mine looked like a 2 year old ate at my seat), the room wasn’t laid out the way I had envisioned, our table mates looked different than I had pictured and most of all… I WAS SO GRATEFUL I COULD SEE.

All in all, this was a fantastic fundraising event for CABVI.  While we all had fun, we walked away with an unbelievably DRAMATIC appreciation for what it meant to be blind!  Mind blowing!

Wake up! (Part 1 of ? – Things I Know I Should Do, But Don’t)

I was listening to a Focus on the Family episode yesterday where they had a woman on who helps women get organized.  She said that 70% of women’s stress comes from not being organized (I don’t know about that…).  Anyway, one of the many tips she gave on the program was to wake up earlier each day.  In doing so, one can gain 1 to 14 hours each week!  In that time, she emphasized making time for God (if that is important to you) then doing whatever needs to be done around the house or in your life that hasn’t been getting done. 

Ok, this is common sense, right?  If so, why don’t we do it?  I would gladly trade stress for peace.  I would love to trade my rushed time with God for intimate time with God.  If this IS true (I have just said it is), then why am I valuing one additional hour of sleep above stress and Godly disconnection (Note: I go to bed at 10ish, so I do get plenty of sleep)?  I am an idiot.

So, what did I do this morning?  I woke up at 5 instead of 6.  I’ll spare you the details of what I have done already, but in a nutshell I feel like… WOOHOO-YEAH! this morning.

Try it.  I double dog dare you.

Prepared or unprepared?

I don’t know where you live, but here in NY we were supposed to get a wicked amount of snow yesterday into today (like, 8-16 inches).  I woke up this morning to see… nuthin’.  Some areas did get a few inches and the mountains received close to a foot.  Is anyone with me when I say, “it is TOO early for snow!” 

Part of the reason I don’t want snow, is I am not ready for it.  A few of the reasons I know this are:

• I haven’t fired up the snowblower
• I don’t know where my shovels are
• I haven’t raked my leaves
• I still have summer clothes in the closet
• It is October
• I want to play more golf
• I want to ride my Harley for another month+
• (the list goes on)

Anyone with me? 

It is ironically strange that we exist in a world where most of us are unprepared for what we KNOW is coming.  Whether it is a poor economy, personal tragedy, stress, political chaos, death, financial struggle, the end of the world, etc…these are not “maybe’s,” but “someday’s.”  So what are most of us doing?  Nuthin’!  We complain and deny while not being prepared.  

Check out Northway Church’s current series on this topic called, Unprecedented Times.  I believe that if I can get my butt in gear and be prepared for WHATEVER is to come, I will have contagious peace. 

Jesus = Preparation.  Preparation = Peace.

Time Out.

I’m taking a blogging time out.  Talk to you later.

X….treme!

Did anyone see X Games last night?  Check out last year’s reminder of Jake Brown’s bail and his come back this year.  Also, check this wipe out by Danny Way (light blue shirt)!  Awesome highlights of X Games 14!  Some of the best and craziest athletes on the planet!

I Want Sandy

As an entrepreneur, I am always thinking and looking at and for “what’s next.”  Unfortunately, not too many things catch my eye or ear anymore (sad, huh).  I do my best to filter out the shocking and offensive stuff so the rest just seems to be old news.  Everything appears to be a new spin on an old concept repackaged.

This morning, I was listening to Air 1 and heard the DJ talk about I Want Sandy.  Although it sounded like a new spin on the old “day planner,” it caused me to check it out.  Interesting timing.  I just watched the Bucket List and Wall-E this weekend where it made me think about how much we depend on “someone” or “something else” in life.  If yoiu’ve seen either one, you’ll know what I mean.  

What did we do without the cell phone, computer, iPod, DVR, GPS, Microsoft, Apple, PS3/Wii/GameCube, etc?  (I am laughing as I write this, because almost none of this existed for me as a teenager)  What’s life going to be like 20 years from now? 

What and who do I depend on now?  What and who do I need?

I know the answer.  Do you?

Rid the Yard of Sticks

I’ll let this speak for itself when you read it.  Rid the Yard of Sticks  This article by David Crowder definitely met me where I am today.

Leadership Friction Principle

Great post on Swerve!  Click and check it out!

To you, “please, forgive me.”

I have said and done hundreds of stupid things in my life.  Unfortunately, many of these things have hurt indirectly (and directly) the people around me.  The only difference between the idiotic damage I did as a youth vs. adult, is the time for which I come to the realization.  Today, I’ll say or do something and know instantly or within days/weeks that I am an idiot.  As for when I was a youth, it can and has taken decades. 

So what do I do about this?  I want forgiveness.  NOT because I want to release the burden on my heart (although this is a secondary factor), but because it is the RIGHT thing to do.  So, how do I do this?  I can’t call or write everyone… in fact, it’s not appropriate in many cases (if you don’t agree, think about who you have wronged) to contact someone directly.  I think this is what I’ll do:

• Where appropriate, I will contact them
• Where inappropriate, or for those I am unaware I have hurt, I will pray today asking for their forgivenss (I have faith that God will work out the necessary details).
• To you (reading this blog), “please, forgive me.  I was a stupid idiot (or maybe worse).”

Thankfully, the frequency for which I hurt people has drastically decreased (especially in the past few years).  The fact that Jesus forgave me of ALL of the crap in my life, makes it nearly impossible not to ask for forgiveness or to forgive everything that everyone has done to hurt me over my life.  In that humility and without self righteous justification…

To you,“please, forgive me.”

Matthew 18:21,22  Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.