My Worship Revolution

So a while back I started hearing about this conference in Tennessee called Re:create.  The more I read from another blogger about the experience the more I was thinkin, "Hey, this is the sort of deal I’d really like to be a part of."  So I thought last fall about wanting to go, and then it slipped away from my memory as life and business continued.

Then a few weeks ago, I realize that it’s right around the corner and it’s probably too late to make it work.  But I also was in a state of spiritual lust per se for resources, connection, and refreshment.  So I’m in a time of worship last week, and walk outside to spend some serious time doing business with God.  As I head back in and sit listening to a speaker, I couldn’t help but get this sense that was something that I really needed to be at right now.

So, on such short notice, I looked into the possibilities, and was able to make the time and find some ways to make it work.  So, to make a long story short, I’m headin out to Tennessee next week to hang with a bunch of peeps with the same passion and heart.  It’s gonna cost a fair bit of money, so I’m still working on figuring out where that is all coming from.  I’m pretty stoked about it though, so I’ll find a way to work it out.   I just hope it’s all that I’m expecting it to be!

So I can’t wait!  And I can’t wait to share all about it while I’m there (with wifi in the hotel).  So, anyone wanna help me get to Tennessee??  (What can I say…no shame in my game here!)   

So I just so happened to be visiting Riverside last week.  I’m driving down Van Buren heading east, just listenin to music and chilin.  All of sudden I catch a big bald head out of the corner of my eye.  I think to myself, "Hey, that really reminded me of Carlos Whittaker."

Now, realizing that I’m in his hood, it causes me to do a double take and I realize, "Wait a minute…that IS Carlos Whittaker."  As I’m zoomin by at 75…I mean, like 45 mph (I DON’T want to go to traffic school again!) I see a giant billboard for Sandals church with the worship leader looking out over the valley.  It made me laugh, so I had to pull over and get a pic.

I thought it rocked.  Then I started thinking that maybe I could get Dave to put my face on a billboard.  But then I realized that I don’t look nearly as cool and that might not be helpful.  I’ve had a lot of 12 year old girls who thought I was cute…maybe they would come!

So yeah, it’s been a few weeks I think since my last random show off my baby post.  So…here comes Caleb!

Some of you who read my wife’s blog have already seen this video, but for those of you that haven’t, you’ve gotta see this video of him laughing in the bathtub.  The random sound is Rachel rubbing the wet rubber part of the little tub thingy:

And here’s some pictures he took of himself on the Macbook Pro…OK…I took them.

Whoa, check out this girls paintings, not to mention her piano/composing skills.  And oh yeah…she’s 12.  I’m not really sure what to think, but you gotta check out this video here.

Here’s a painting the created at 9 years old:

Oh yeah, and you can see more at her site here.

HT: Jules

Today was a great day at church.  It was our second "I Will Follow" Sunday.  This is a special Sunday at Revolution once every quarter where people are given the opportunity to "go public" with their faith in Christ, either for the first time or as a re-commitment.  Today, over 25 people stood and chose to publicly follow Jesus.  Somewhere around 13 or 14 people got baptized.

A few personal highlights for me:

• A friend I’ve gotten to know a little better recently, who’s been at Revolution for probably a year and a half or so at least, chose to follow Jesus for the first time
• Another friends parents chose to follow Jesus
• 3 people from our life group were baptized today, one at each service
• I had the privilege of baptizing two people tonight, one of those being my very good friend, Charlie Garrison.  Here’s a picture…the water was cold:
  

It was an awesome ministry day.  It’s always nice to have those encouraging days that remind you why you do what you do.  As a pastor, I often feel like I am just supposed to love everything I do everyday.  The truth is there are days that I don’t.  I get tired.  I get discouraged.  There are days where I want to completely throw in the towel.  There are seasons that I wonder if this is really what God called me to do.  But eventually I’m reminded of the truth.  Sometimes it’s through the encouragement of other believers and mentors.  Sometimes it’s through reading my Bible.  Today it was by seeing people take a leap of faith.  It was in seeing people I care about and have invested in take a significant step in their faith journey.  It was clearly seeing people’s lives changed for the better.  Thank God for those glimpses that keep us going and keep us from growing too weary in doing good!

Tonight we went on the second date of our new 4×4.  Unfuortunately, one couple couldn’t make it, so it’s kinda more like a 3×3.  We hooked up at BJ’s for dinner and dessert and then went to East West Ice Palace for some ice skating.  Here’s a few pictures:

Thanks to Phil and Roxanne for planning an awesome night!

Well, I wasn’t able to update you during the day because the hotel wouldn’t give me the internet password without a room.  But FYI, the traffic school was horrible.  The company is called "Great Comedians Traffic School".  It should really be something more like "Wanna-be Comedians That Try Hard Traffic School".  I’ve done the comedy traffic school thing before, and it wasn’t so bad.  This was.  The guy has never even worked as a comedian.  From what we gathered, he teaches traffic school, teaches phys ed, and works with senior citizens (maybe teaching PE).  Not funny.

Here’s a small (and low quality…Garage Band) example of just how unfunny it was.

And here’s an idea of what Keith and I did to pass the time:

Yeah. I definitely don’t want another ticket.  That, and of course the ridiculous amount of money I had to shell out for it.

Several months ago I got a friendly letter in the mail.  it was the friendly city of Los Alamitos informing me that I had been caught on tape running a red light.  I saw the picture, and I was making a right turn. 
I said  out loud, "This is a picture of me turning right.  I can do that.  Who’s to say I didn’t stop first?"  Then my wonderful wife pointed out the part where it said you could watch your video online.  I checked it out.  Yeah…busted.

So, it was an expensive ticket, and now I have to spend all day tomorrow in traffic school.  I decided to go the comedy traffic school route, so I’ll be listening to some poor struggling comedian tell bad jokes for 8 hours (8:30am – 4:30pm – 45 minutes for lunch).  My good friend Keith got a ticket at the exact same intersection, so at least we get to go through it together, which will hopefully make it a bit more fun.

And the best part…I called the hotel that’s hosting it, and they offer free wifi.  So stop by tomorrow and maybe you can share in some of our misery with us!

Here’s the video we showed this past weekend when announcing baptisms.  It’s been making the rounds on the internet…I’ve seen it on several blogs recently.  Check it out:

So yeah, we’re having baptisms this next Sunday, and there’s still time to sign up for the baptism class on Saturday!!  C’mon, jump in!
 

   


OK, so I’ve had this blog for almost two years now and in that time I have not once had a post with any sort of political nature to it, but there’s a first time for everything.  I guess that’s because I am fairly opinionated and interested in politics, but it is such a hot button and truth be told, I don’t typically care enough to deal with that here.  I recognize that I can’t ever count on politics to really make a difference in peoples lives, because only Jesus can.  Also, keep in mind as you read that what I share here are simply my own thoughts on things…period.

But tonight I just felt like I had to post because honestly, I feel burdened.  My heart hurts over this situation.  If you don’t know anything about it, check out the link, or if you’d rather not deal with it just move on from this post and I’ll find a funny video for the next one or something.  Today these guys turned themselves over to authorities to serve sentences of 11 and 12 years.  Something seems unfair about that to me.  Do I know all the facts…I’m sure the answer is no.  Perhaps there was some negligence on their part beyond what I’m aware of.  But it just doesn’t seem right.  Two guys put their lives on the line everyday to protect our borders, regardless of how you feel about our border policies.  They try to make the best decision they can at a crucial moment.  The perpetrator?  A man entering our country with 750 pounds of marijuana.  That’s worth over one million dollars on our streets.  He gets spotted and runs from authorities.  He escapes after being shot in the arse on his way out.

Now that man, a known and continuing drug smuggler, is pardoned.  He is treated in a U.S. hospital.  He is now suing our government for millions of dollars.  And the two men who caught him?  Their wives will go to sleep without their husbands for the next 10+ years.  Their kids will experience the most critical years of their lives with fathers behind bars.  And we have an administration, one that I admit I’ve been very supportive of thus far, that could pardon these guys but has remained silent.

I admit, I don’t understand.  Maybe there’s a lot I don’t know.  I hope so.  Cause it makes me sad.  It is one of the very few times in my life I’ve ever sat here and felt like there’s really nothing I can do to make a difference.  I know that part will pass before I wake up tomorrow, but right now I feel slightly helpless and hopeless.  I’m disappointed in our systems and wonder if they will ever get any better.  I believe they won’t.  But I guess that even as I write this, it serves as a reminder that we live in such an imperfect world.  And it’s not my home.  I’ll do my best to trust in God.  To remember that he is sovereign.  Even when it doesn’t make sense.  But in the mean time, it makes me sad.  Alright…that’s enough of that I guess.  Now back to our regularly scheduled programs…