My Worship Revolution

 February 2006 – Big Bear

In February of last year, we spent a weekend at a cabin in Big Bear with a group of friends from our Life Group.  Charlie and Bridget, Stephen and Stephanie, and Will.  They were the first group of people we told that Rachel was pregnant, even before our parents.  Needless to say, they have been significant people in our lives.

Since then, a lot has happened.  Two kids have been added to the mix.  I had the privilege of baptizing Charlie at Revolution.  I’ve seen Charlie and Bridget step it up as amazing Life Group leaders and seen them grow together in their relationship with Christ by leaps and bounds.  Rachel and I have very literally lived life with Stephen and Stephanie, living with another couple, a three year old, and a newborn in a four bedroom house in Cerritos.  I met weekly with Will along with a few other guys before work every Friday morning, sharing our lives, praying for each other, and growing deeper in our understanding of God together.

Now, a year and a half after that Big Bear trip, they all joined us in Santa Cruz for Labor Day weekend.  We had a blast together.  Visiting San Francisco.  Cruising around Pac Ave.  Watching the surfers at Steamer’s.  Playing games at Ed and Julie’s.  Grilling burgers at our pad. 

As I drove home from taking the last of them to the airport, I began to think of the significance of their visit for me and the lengths they went to to be here.

Charlie and Bridget.  Charlie owns his own business.  Things are getting better and better, but they definitely aren’t rolling in dough.  Yet they valued our friendship and time together enough to make the sacrifices to be here to see where we’re at and spend some time with us.
Stephen and Steph.  Woke up at like 5am on Sat (trust me, that alone is big! ;)).  Spent over 6 hours both directions in a car with a three year old and a three month old to be here.
Will.  Who likes to have everything planned and doesn’t like spontaneity.  After calling to tell him he should join us this weekend didn’t even think twice and bought his plane ticket before any of us could blink an eye.

We each have our own issues.  None of us are perfect.  When we get together, us guys tend to push the boundaries of appropriateness to where our wives think we’ve all reverted back to Junior High.  We laugh a lot.  We bicker a bit.  We pick on each other at times.  But I know that every single one of them would go to bat for me in a heartbeat.  I know some of them have already come to my defense in discussions behind my back.  And I would go the extra mile for them, too.

In our Life Group training at CLC, one of the primary purpose we’ve been discussing for our groups is to allow for spiritually significant relationships in peoples lives.  These friends are an example of that for me.  As I drove home last night, I realized how much I personally miss the times with them.  And it made me long again for those types of relationships here in Santa Cruz, which I know will eventually come.  They take time.  And it’s well worth the wait.

Thanks for a great weekend guys.  And thanks for being such great friends.  Rachel and I are blessed to have so many great people in our lives.  These are just a few of them.  And…oh yeah…as you can see below, we added another to the group while cruisin down Pac Ave!

2007 – Pier 39, San Francisco                 DT Santa Cruz…with Robert Pinky!

OK, one more before you leave the office.  Hope you’ve enjoyed the day of video entertainment and I hope I haven’t distracted you from work too much!  Promise, I wasn’t sitting at my computer posting these all day.  Programed em all this morning and let it go.

I never realized just how creepy Mr. Rodgers really was as a kid.  This is creepy, yet funny at the same time.

HT: Live Salty

Rachel walked down the aisle to this song.  OK, no more setup.  Just watch this.  It’s hilarious.

HT: Transition Pete

My wife is a big Office fan now.  I watch it on occasion with her, but do really enjoy it.  It starts again soon.  But before you watch, find out what the Dunder Mifflin folks were up to all summer.

Tim told me about this video awhile back when we were watching a juggler at the zoo.  He said it was kinda lame after about 30 seconds.  Just a guy juggling.  I thought it was pretty freaking cool.  You decide.

Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Samuel Jackson.
Forest Whitaker.
Denzel Washington.
Angela Bassett.
Blair Underwood.
This thing rocks!

I’ll admit, the first time I watched it, I wondered if any talented white voices exist. 

Pretty amazing.  I want a copy!

HT: CECworship

So, today will be a busy day of getting everything I can done so I can take tomorrow off to hang out with some of our closest friends, who are coming up to visit us this weekend.  Will, Charlie and Bridget, and Stephen, Stephanie, Kaelyn (3) and Kaden (3 mo.) will be trickling in today and tomorrow for a fun filled Labor Day weekend.

But that’s beside the point.  There are a number of YouTube videos that I have recently seen and enjoyed that are well worth seeing.  So today will be all videos Friday.  Throughout the day I’ll have my computer posting videos (which means you’ll need to swing over here from your RSS feeders!) to give you some small quick distractions throughout the day as I get stuff done.  Some will be funny, others perhaps inspiring.

So to start us off, an unaired episode of Myth Busters that my wife showed me yesterday.  They explore the myth that attractive women don’t pass gas.  Check it out!

I’ve pimped his blog here before, and here it goes again.  Steven Furtick had a really good post this morning about the value of and opportunity presented by blogs.  Go check it out, then come on back and tell me what you think.

I’ve seen myself able to network with other pastors and worship leaders as a result of this thing.  I’ve made friends, learned from their experiences, and even met up with them face to face to share lives and experiences.  I get to read from guys like Furtick and Groeschel and have access to tons of leadership encouragement and knowledge.

But better yet, how does this work in our local context?  In his post he says,

"Can you imagine if Joshua would have been able to check Moses’ blog every morning?"

I know that I have, at different points in time appreciated being able to hear what’s going on in the heart of my pastor or those I work with or live around via their blogs.  As I continue to settle in at CLC, I have had the opportunity to get together with some amazing people and get to know those people I have the honor of serving alongside.  For example, last night I had dinner with Aaron Mapes.  This guy has such an awesome heart, I already see him doing amazing things in his excitement on the Life Group front, and it was great to get to know him a little better and share our lives a bit.

Unfortunately, I can only have so many meals, time wise, finance wise, and not to mention figure wise!  I really wish I could do that with every person at CLC, but I can’t.  And as we grow, it will get harder and harder.  And that is where blogging can actually help to close the gap.

Those who are a part of the ministries I have the privilege of leading here can come to this blog and hear more of who I am.  Hear my heart and hopefully catch a small piece of my passion for reaching others by observing a small piece of my life.  And as I look at your blogs I get to hear more often about what is happening in your life.  I get to find out what is really important to you.

Blogs are not a substitute to real, authentic relationships.  They never should be.  Rather, they can enhance our relationships.  But, if you’re here, perhaps I’m preaching to the choir!  Point is, keep stopping by and join in the discussion.  If you’re in ministry, I hope I can share learnings along the way that encourage you some in what God has called you to.  If you’re an old or new friend, I hope this is a place you feel you can stay connected to the life of my family.  And you CLC peeps…welcome!  I know you’re still trickling in slowly.  Invite others to come by as well.  Subscribe via RSS feed.  And I hope that you can better understand me and my passion to radically impact Santa Cruz through our worship and life together in authentic community.

And above all, start your own stinkin blog!!!  And then keep posting, too!  (Yeah…that’s for you Marc! ;))  Let me know when you do.  I want to share in your life.  Come on CLCers, let’s get that blogroll growing.

Any thoughts?

I mean, really know me.  Well here’s a chance to either prove it, or learn a little more.

I saw this on a few friends blogs and wasn’t going to follow suit, but I gave into the pressure.  I had such a great time doing theirs, that I decided to quickly throw together one for you.  It shouldn’t be too tough…I think.  And hopefully a couple of the questions will be mildly entertaining. 

So waste a good 5 minutes of your time, and let’s see what you know about me.  And no cheating!

PS – Speaking of cheating…take the test before looking in the comments.  There may be spoilers!

Take My Quiz on QuizYourFriends.com                                                                                                      Can you Ace my quiz?   Yes!   No   Let’s Find Out!

Alright, as promised, here’s the message audio from Sunday if anyone desires to listen to it.  Although, I realized that is also in the post below the confessional in the player that is embedded, as are the notes.  So if you decide to listen, a couple of my own thoughts and info having listened to half of it so far:

• I’m my own worst critic.  I hate listening to myself speak.  I always think I sound like a dufus.  Just FYI.  But I learn a lot recapping.
• The beginning scripture is our youth pastor, Kyle Hopkins.  His wife happens to be named Rachel also.  (She led worship.)  We’re not pregnant.  We’re not praying for a boy.
• The first few lines of the drama got lost.  And oh yeah, it also included a series of pictures on the screens from NYC.  Katie did a great job.  I saw several people wiping their eyes.

That’s it.  Check it if ya like.  Hit the play button below.  Lates.