So my wife loves the Indy 500. We grew up an hour away from Indianapolis and her Dad sells auto parts. Its kinda in her blood. So over the years I have learned a lot about Indy cars. They used to have different chasis, engines, tires, all kinds of fun stuff. Now they are pretty much the same, same chasis, tires, engines. To me, BORING! Basically every car is the same except for driver and his or her skill. Cool if your the driver but to the guy who wants to see cars go faster and set new records its lame. The reason for the sameness is for safety. A good reason but for 100 years the Indy 500 is been about innovation and creating new things to go faster. But they have gotten away from innovation in favor of safety and the ratings are getting lower and lower ratings article here .
Instead of making everything the same why not innovate better safety equipment. (My imagination has huge blow up balls that cover the cars bouncing around the race track after a wreck.) We don't do that? We retreat to safety instead of moving forward to innovation.
Our churches are like the Indy 500 (not mine of course, just yours hehe) we have gone away from the innovation, the creativity to set new records because we want safety. Think about it. When was the last time you walked into a church and said Woah! Now you probably heard the same Chris Tomlin songs and Hillside United (if you prefer a contemporary service) or the same Gaither songs (I don't want to talk about it). Yeah it may be hard, dangerous, and down right scary but what happens when we push the boundaries. What happens when better systems are put in? How is the kingdom of God effected with drastically different worship, service, and spiritual formation ideas? I am not speaking just to worship styles, but to the way in which we lead the congregation and teach the scripture. Is anyone else tired of Andy Stanley or Rick Warren clones? They are great preachers awesome communicators but I am not them and neither are you. (I tried to be Rob Bell once I even have dark rimmed glasses it didn't work out well)
If the Indy 500 went back to innovation instead of safety ratings would sky rocket. If churches got back to innovating the Kingdom of God would be made present here on earth.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Prom is this Saturday
So Prom is this weekend... So many things to say about that but I don't know how awkward to be in a blog post. So let me say this. Be classy Woodstock. Be classy.
By that I mean. This is prom it can be a great night, memorable night, a night that you remember fondly for years to come. Or it can be terrible, horrible, no good bad day and a night that you want to forget for the rest of your life. So which do you want?
This is a legacy night. For seniors this is one of the last memories you will have of high school. How do you want to remember it? As a night that was wasted with alcohol or inappropriate sexual situations. I mean seriously Prom should be about something other than getting drunk and seeing how far you can get. So what should it be about then?
How about a night to build great memories with your friends or your significant other. What does prom look like if you go with the mindset to have fun and enjoy each other. So my tip to have fun this Prom is, go without expectations. Drop the pretenses of "I have to dance with this person every dance". Sit down during the slow songs, act goofy on the fast songs. Don't take yourself seriously, do the Electric Slide, you know you want to, For heaven's sake don't grind on people, its just wrong, and nasty, and gross, seriously don't do it.
Be the group of Students that everyone else wishes they were in because of the insane amount of fun your having. So like I said Stay Classy Woodstock, Stay Classy.
If you get into a situation where you need help or somewhere else to go my home is open to you and my phone will be on. Much Love!
By that I mean. This is prom it can be a great night, memorable night, a night that you remember fondly for years to come. Or it can be terrible, horrible, no good bad day and a night that you want to forget for the rest of your life. So which do you want?
This is a legacy night. For seniors this is one of the last memories you will have of high school. How do you want to remember it? As a night that was wasted with alcohol or inappropriate sexual situations. I mean seriously Prom should be about something other than getting drunk and seeing how far you can get. So what should it be about then?
How about a night to build great memories with your friends or your significant other. What does prom look like if you go with the mindset to have fun and enjoy each other. So my tip to have fun this Prom is, go without expectations. Drop the pretenses of "I have to dance with this person every dance". Sit down during the slow songs, act goofy on the fast songs. Don't take yourself seriously, do the Electric Slide, you know you want to, For heaven's sake don't grind on people, its just wrong, and nasty, and gross, seriously don't do it.
Be the group of Students that everyone else wishes they were in because of the insane amount of fun your having. So like I said Stay Classy Woodstock, Stay Classy.
If you get into a situation where you need help or somewhere else to go my home is open to you and my phone will be on. Much Love!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Fondue is food for the Soul
My wife and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary last night. Which is a pretty big deal if you know me, you might ask how could anyone want to be with that guy for eight years but alas she is amazing and patient... So in honor of the occasion we went to Dante's down the Hatch ,a wonderful fondue restaurant, that features live jazz music. It is also has a full size 19th century ship in the middle of the restaurant (which is awesome).
Now for the the point. We ate Fondue. This is not something you can rush. If you do eat it to fast, you wind up burning an assortment of appendages or just undercooking your food. By taking your time with it, handling with care, slowing down, and taking care that each piece is cooked just right ensures the best possible result. In my marriage both of us work extremely hard and we have twins, a night in which we slow down and just enjoy each others company is rare and beautiful. As I think about how great this night was for our relationship, I wonder how to implement this in my relationship with others and with God? Do I eat from the fast food line in all my relationships? What has that been doing to my friendships? Am I scared of slowing down? What are my reasons for going so fast?
We enjoyed the experience so much that on the way home we stopped at another fondue restaurant for desert.
Now for the the point. We ate Fondue. This is not something you can rush. If you do eat it to fast, you wind up burning an assortment of appendages or just undercooking your food. By taking your time with it, handling with care, slowing down, and taking care that each piece is cooked just right ensures the best possible result. In my marriage both of us work extremely hard and we have twins, a night in which we slow down and just enjoy each others company is rare and beautiful. As I think about how great this night was for our relationship, I wonder how to implement this in my relationship with others and with God? Do I eat from the fast food line in all my relationships? What has that been doing to my friendships? Am I scared of slowing down? What are my reasons for going so fast?
We enjoyed the experience so much that on the way home we stopped at another fondue restaurant for desert.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The Toast
My best friends in the world are all together this weekend for a wedding. We laugh, we cry, we tell stories, we laugh, we cry, we do something stupid and the cycle continues until we have to sleep or settle down for the wedding. It is amazing thing to be apart of. At each wedding we have a tradition. We give a toast the night before the wedding. The toast is as important as the wedding. Many guys make it for the toast but not the actual ceremony. We sit up late and go around in a circle of how the groom is going to make a great husband, how he is a great man, how he has brought value into our lives. It is a rare moment of complete transparency. It is beautiful. I am convinced the the community that is created in those moments is what God had in mind for Christian brotherhood. I am left wondering why cant I live my live in this kind of community and transparency? How can I foster this authenticity in my relationships and in those that I lead? I do know this the community I experience is life giving and I know God is active in it. I urge you to pursue community with reckless intentionality.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Rising Above
So its the end of the year. Which means Prom, sports, finals, senior project, graduation, looking for a job, and trying to breathe. Life is a little hectic huh. It is at times like these that you have to remember Sabbath. To rest in God and know that He is God. I know I want to run around and fix all the problems of the world. Make everyone happy and do great at everything I touch. The truth is I disappoint people and I kill flowers. Why? Cause Im not God. I can't do it all. When I realize that God is the one in control. The pressure to perform slips away. Resting in God become a place of renewal instead of tension. Sabbath goes from something I have to do to something I get to do.
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Monday, May 23, 2011
Indy Cars are like Churches
So my wife loves the Indy 500. We grew up an hour away from Indianapolis and her Dad sells auto parts. Its kinda in her blood. So over the years I have learned a lot about Indy cars. They used to have different chasis, engines, tires, all kinds of fun stuff. Now they are pretty much the same, same chasis, tires, engines. To me, BORING! Basically every car is the same except for driver and his or her skill. Cool if your the driver but to the guy who wants to see cars go faster and set new records its lame. The reason for the sameness is for safety. A good reason but for 100 years the Indy 500 is been about innovation and creating new things to go faster. But they have gotten away from innovation in favor of safety and the ratings are getting lower and lower ratings article here .
Instead of making everything the same why not innovate better safety equipment. (My imagination has huge blow up balls that cover the cars bouncing around the race track after a wreck.) We don't do that? We retreat to safety instead of moving forward to innovation.
Our churches are like the Indy 500 (not mine of course, just yours hehe) we have gone away from the innovation, the creativity to set new records because we want safety. Think about it. When was the last time you walked into a church and said Woah! Now you probably heard the same Chris Tomlin songs and Hillside United (if you prefer a contemporary service) or the same Gaither songs (I don't want to talk about it). Yeah it may be hard, dangerous, and down right scary but what happens when we push the boundaries. What happens when better systems are put in? How is the kingdom of God effected with drastically different worship, service, and spiritual formation ideas? I am not speaking just to worship styles, but to the way in which we lead the congregation and teach the scripture. Is anyone else tired of Andy Stanley or Rick Warren clones? They are great preachers awesome communicators but I am not them and neither are you. (I tried to be Rob Bell once I even have dark rimmed glasses it didn't work out well)
If the Indy 500 went back to innovation instead of safety ratings would sky rocket. If churches got back to innovating the Kingdom of God would be made present here on earth.
Instead of making everything the same why not innovate better safety equipment. (My imagination has huge blow up balls that cover the cars bouncing around the race track after a wreck.) We don't do that? We retreat to safety instead of moving forward to innovation.
Our churches are like the Indy 500 (not mine of course, just yours hehe) we have gone away from the innovation, the creativity to set new records because we want safety. Think about it. When was the last time you walked into a church and said Woah! Now you probably heard the same Chris Tomlin songs and Hillside United (if you prefer a contemporary service) or the same Gaither songs (I don't want to talk about it). Yeah it may be hard, dangerous, and down right scary but what happens when we push the boundaries. What happens when better systems are put in? How is the kingdom of God effected with drastically different worship, service, and spiritual formation ideas? I am not speaking just to worship styles, but to the way in which we lead the congregation and teach the scripture. Is anyone else tired of Andy Stanley or Rick Warren clones? They are great preachers awesome communicators but I am not them and neither are you. (I tried to be Rob Bell once I even have dark rimmed glasses it didn't work out well)
If the Indy 500 went back to innovation instead of safety ratings would sky rocket. If churches got back to innovating the Kingdom of God would be made present here on earth.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Prom is this Saturday
So Prom is this weekend... So many things to say about that but I don't know how awkward to be in a blog post. So let me say this. Be classy Woodstock. Be classy.
By that I mean. This is prom it can be a great night, memorable night, a night that you remember fondly for years to come. Or it can be terrible, horrible, no good bad day and a night that you want to forget for the rest of your life. So which do you want?
This is a legacy night. For seniors this is one of the last memories you will have of high school. How do you want to remember it? As a night that was wasted with alcohol or inappropriate sexual situations. I mean seriously Prom should be about something other than getting drunk and seeing how far you can get. So what should it be about then?
How about a night to build great memories with your friends or your significant other. What does prom look like if you go with the mindset to have fun and enjoy each other. So my tip to have fun this Prom is, go without expectations. Drop the pretenses of "I have to dance with this person every dance". Sit down during the slow songs, act goofy on the fast songs. Don't take yourself seriously, do the Electric Slide, you know you want to, For heaven's sake don't grind on people, its just wrong, and nasty, and gross, seriously don't do it.
Be the group of Students that everyone else wishes they were in because of the insane amount of fun your having. So like I said Stay Classy Woodstock, Stay Classy.
If you get into a situation where you need help or somewhere else to go my home is open to you and my phone will be on. Much Love!
By that I mean. This is prom it can be a great night, memorable night, a night that you remember fondly for years to come. Or it can be terrible, horrible, no good bad day and a night that you want to forget for the rest of your life. So which do you want?
This is a legacy night. For seniors this is one of the last memories you will have of high school. How do you want to remember it? As a night that was wasted with alcohol or inappropriate sexual situations. I mean seriously Prom should be about something other than getting drunk and seeing how far you can get. So what should it be about then?
How about a night to build great memories with your friends or your significant other. What does prom look like if you go with the mindset to have fun and enjoy each other. So my tip to have fun this Prom is, go without expectations. Drop the pretenses of "I have to dance with this person every dance". Sit down during the slow songs, act goofy on the fast songs. Don't take yourself seriously, do the Electric Slide, you know you want to, For heaven's sake don't grind on people, its just wrong, and nasty, and gross, seriously don't do it.
Be the group of Students that everyone else wishes they were in because of the insane amount of fun your having. So like I said Stay Classy Woodstock, Stay Classy.
If you get into a situation where you need help or somewhere else to go my home is open to you and my phone will be on. Much Love!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Fondue is food for the Soul
My wife and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary last night. Which is a pretty big deal if you know me, you might ask how could anyone want to be with that guy for eight years but alas she is amazing and patient... So in honor of the occasion we went to Dante's down the Hatch ,a wonderful fondue restaurant, that features live jazz music. It is also has a full size 19th century ship in the middle of the restaurant (which is awesome).
Now for the the point. We ate Fondue. This is not something you can rush. If you do eat it to fast, you wind up burning an assortment of appendages or just undercooking your food. By taking your time with it, handling with care, slowing down, and taking care that each piece is cooked just right ensures the best possible result. In my marriage both of us work extremely hard and we have twins, a night in which we slow down and just enjoy each others company is rare and beautiful. As I think about how great this night was for our relationship, I wonder how to implement this in my relationship with others and with God? Do I eat from the fast food line in all my relationships? What has that been doing to my friendships? Am I scared of slowing down? What are my reasons for going so fast?
We enjoyed the experience so much that on the way home we stopped at another fondue restaurant for desert.
Now for the the point. We ate Fondue. This is not something you can rush. If you do eat it to fast, you wind up burning an assortment of appendages or just undercooking your food. By taking your time with it, handling with care, slowing down, and taking care that each piece is cooked just right ensures the best possible result. In my marriage both of us work extremely hard and we have twins, a night in which we slow down and just enjoy each others company is rare and beautiful. As I think about how great this night was for our relationship, I wonder how to implement this in my relationship with others and with God? Do I eat from the fast food line in all my relationships? What has that been doing to my friendships? Am I scared of slowing down? What are my reasons for going so fast?
We enjoyed the experience so much that on the way home we stopped at another fondue restaurant for desert.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The Toast
My best friends in the world are all together this weekend for a wedding. We laugh, we cry, we tell stories, we laugh, we cry, we do something stupid and the cycle continues until we have to sleep or settle down for the wedding. It is amazing thing to be apart of. At each wedding we have a tradition. We give a toast the night before the wedding. The toast is as important as the wedding. Many guys make it for the toast but not the actual ceremony. We sit up late and go around in a circle of how the groom is going to make a great husband, how he is a great man, how he has brought value into our lives. It is a rare moment of complete transparency. It is beautiful. I am convinced the the community that is created in those moments is what God had in mind for Christian brotherhood. I am left wondering why cant I live my live in this kind of community and transparency? How can I foster this authenticity in my relationships and in those that I lead? I do know this the community I experience is life giving and I know God is active in it. I urge you to pursue community with reckless intentionality.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Rising Above
So its the end of the year. Which means Prom, sports, finals, senior project, graduation, looking for a job, and trying to breathe. Life is a little hectic huh. It is at times like these that you have to remember Sabbath. To rest in God and know that He is God. I know I want to run around and fix all the problems of the world. Make everyone happy and do great at everything I touch. The truth is I disappoint people and I kill flowers. Why? Cause Im not God. I can't do it all. When I realize that God is the one in control. The pressure to perform slips away. Resting in God become a place of renewal instead of tension. Sabbath goes from something I have to do to something I get to do.
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