My Encounter Journey (Day 10)

Today's Scriptures are Romans 8:18-28. This is a very encouraging passage. What is awaiting us in heaven is far better than what is messing up our lives here on earth. My wife has always told me that it would be great if I could experience some of the things that only women experience, but apparently, Paul says I somehow am. The earth is groaning like it is in labor. And we are doing the same thing. We are groaning with a hope that heaven is better than earth (it's got to be)...with the expectation that we will be adopted as a very child of God.

We are groaning like we are in labor when we experience those situations when we know we should pray, but we have no idea how or what to say because the complexity of the situation we are facing is overwhelming. Then God steps in for us through His Spirit and takes over for us.

I see that as kind of like how I am teaching my oldest son to drive right now. There have been a couple of things he faced as we were learning to drive (far away from all civilization, mind you) that he wasn't sure what to do, if he should brake or push the gas...if he should turn left or right. He just didn't know. So I took over for him. I got him through that difficult part.

That's what our heavenly Father does for us. He steps in and takes the wheel sometimes for us. That is an awesome thing. (Except I am glad God only does this for us through our prayers and not while we are driving because that would be weird...no one could see anybody behind the wheel and that could cause an accident.)

The best of the best of the best of this section in Romans is verse 28. What ever crap you walk through, whatever horror movie your life seems to be turning out to be, whatever giant blocks your pathway...God will turn that completely around. Now, He doesn't say how long that will take (because most of the time it can't happen fast enough for us.) But He does say it will happen. That means no matter how bad it gets, it will get better. God promises this, but it is only for those who are fully devoted followers.

"Lord Jesus, thank you, thank you, thank you. You are an awesome, wonderful, loving and Holy God. A God who helps us even though we don't deserve to be helped. Thank you for your goodness, your kindness, your grace. I love you, Lord. I love it that I am your precious child. In Jesus' Name."

Out Of Office Reply

Okay...I had to get out for a little bit this afternoon. The walls were closing in on me. Sometimes I hate my office. It can be a hard place to get anything creative done. Well, I usually bring along my camera and I took a few photos of a trail I walked down at Fort Des Moines Park. It was pretty cool because I ran into a deer while I was out who posed long enough for me to get a few shots of her before she darted off back into the woods. Something else that is cool is that because the brush hasn't grown all back quite yet, you can see remnants of old structures that have been overtaken by the woods. I wonder what they used to be. It'd be interesting to know the history of that area and to know what used to be there. Here's a few of my pictures...









I thought this last shot of the board across the logs was just cool looking.

Awesome Interview with the real Masterpastor

Here is an interview that was done with Rick Warren last week which is absolutely great. I would encourage you to listen to the things he says in this. He really is a sharp guy...

To watch the interview click Here.

My Encounter Journey (Day 9)

Today's Scripture is John 17. This is a very different passage for me. I feel like a voyeur when I read it. Jesus is praying, very intimately with his Father. And I feel like I shouldn't be listening in on it, but I can't help myself when I read this section.

He prays for Himself, He prays for His followers, but He also prays for me. That is astounding! Jesus prayed for me. Why? And specifically (maybe even more scary) why does He think I need to be prayed for?

Apparently, what I can glean from listening in on this prayer, is that Jesus somehow thinks that I am going to have a difficult time getting along with other Christians. Like that is a possibility! I come from the Churches of Christ, the most unified group on planet earth! (Wait a second, I'm thinking I shouldn't have said that.)

Jesus knew that having unity in the Church would be the most difficult obstacle to overcome. And that is the heartbeat of His prayer for us today. That we would be One.

Now, not to turn this into an advertisement, but I am so excited that there will be overlap into an upcoming series that begins the second week of June. I am very excited about this series, it is probably one of the most unique experiences we will have ever had as a congregation. Click this to read more:

"Jesus, help us to answer your prayer by being one. Help me to understand that when I treat other Christians wrongly I am trying to mess with your prayers. Help me Father to love people. In Jesus' Name."

Financial Peace University

Tonight we had our first session of Financial Peace University. It was a home run. When we left I was just all giddy inside...kind of like a little girl when she gets a new Barbie (Wow...I have no idea where that came from!). Not everyone gets as excited about good teaching as I do. When I hear a great sermon or sit in on a wonderful Bible lesson/study, I feel like I have just had a great meal.

We have some very good friends who took our family out to Hickory Park BBQ in Ames, IA back in December (they were simply being obedient to Scripture..."Feed your pastor good meals" it's in there somewhere, I know it is). I had never been there before. Man, oh man, was it ever good. We have been back and it has become my new favorite restaurant. It is awesome food. When I left there, I was giddy (kind of like a hairy, bull-rustling cowboy...there, much better). It was just a great experience.

That's how I feel when I experience good teaching. Just like I have had an awesome meal. I'm full and I'm very happy. (I wish everybody was like that.)

My Encounter Journey (Day 8)

Today's Scriptures are Matthew 6:5-15. I preached this passage yesterday at church. Prayer has been a difficult struggle for me. It isn't something I have "down" or have completely figured out.

Sometimes I feel like I can do it with no problem and feel very close to God. Other times it is just weird. I feel like I am talking into the air, forcing something to happen spiritually...and it usually doesn't.

There are times when I have prayed that all of a sudden a cuss word pops into my head (and I don't cuss...I really don't). Why in the #$&!!?# would that happen to me? I don't know. Maybe it is a spiritual attack or something or maybe I am just a doofus when it comes to really trying to connect with God.

I am really easily distracted. Kind of like a woman going into a store to buy shoes...but all the pretty blouses and purses are between her and the shoes. It is easy to get distracted, I think.

That's why we should have time to do this prayer thing when we are all alone. Get away somewhere and just try to focus on God. That's a key element in this process.

"Lord, you are an awesome God. Give me the focus this week to be able to spend time each day with You and not be distracted. Help me to give you first focus in my mind and heart. Thank you that I didn't think of a cuss word while I wrote this. In Jesus' Name.."

My Encounter Journey (Day 7)

As with any time that I have focused on getting into the Word, I have experienced both good and bad this week. The good comes from sensing God's Presence with much more clarity in my life. The bad comes from Satan stepping up his attacks in my life because I have been in the Word.

I really do desire to crave God's Word. I am being honest in saying that I don't currently. I want to. But for me, many more times than not, it is a textbook or a workbook. I want it to be my oxygen. My life flow.

This coming week's focus is on prayer. I have practiced my sermon several times and feel good about it. I don't have the strongest prayer life either. I desire that as well (a better prayer life).

One of the things I do with my sons is snake hunt. Part of that experience is something we call "flipping". Flipping is when you turn over rocks and logs to see what is lying under them. I feel like that is what this encounter experience is for me. Flipping.

Except God is doing the flipping in my life. He is turning over the things that need to be turned over because there are dangerous areas hidden from sight. And I want Him to do that. I want to be flipped over.

"Heavenly Father, as this new week dawns, help me to stay in your Word. Help me to crave it, to desire it. Help me to continue feasting on it. Help me to be a better man of prayer. Thank you for all the flipping going on in my life right now. In Jesus' Name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 6)

Today's Scriptures are Luke 5:1-11. I see myself resistant to things that God is wanting to reveal to me continuously. I am getting better though. The way God usually works with me, is that He will, at first, tap me on the shoulder. If I continue to ignore, or go about my own business, then He will hit me upside the head with a 2x4.

so to avoid pain and grief, I am learning to respond to Him quicker. I think Peter never dreamed as he had finished his work that morning that he would be leaving it forever to do something completely different. But when Jesus asked to use his boat, that's where this journey began for Peter.

And in the midst of being close to Jesus, Peter embraced a "because you say so" faith. And that was just enough faith for Jesus to do something amazing. And when Peter saw who it was that was really in the boat with him (the Lord), he realized at the same moment who he really is (a sinner).

That is the weirdest thing about our walk with God, to me. The closer I get to Him, the farther away I realize He is. The closer I get, I realize how far I have to go. You may think you're doing good, but you start drawing close to God and you will realize that you have an awful amount of growth ahead of you. The holier that you see God, the less holy you see yourself. The more you learn about God, the more stupid you become.

That's weird to me. But that's how that works. So I guess I want to have the realization that I am nothing more than a stupid sinner...and then I'll be doing pretty good.

"Lord, Jesus, help me to never think more of myself than that which I truly am...a sinner in need of your grace. Thank you for saving me. In Your Name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 5)

Today's Scriptures are Isaiah 55:6-12.

In having recent conversations with my natural father (he called me last night again) I have been struggling with what parts of my faith do I let come through? He knows I am a pastor. But we haven't really broached to topic of faith yet. He has cussed a couple of times while we've talked...not a big deal to me because he's not a Christian and that's what non-Christians do (they cuss...I think they take classes in it or something). So I'm not bothered by that.

But being that our relationship is really just beginning, I want to start it out on the right foot and not have it be awkward or odd that I would talk about the Bible and my faith with him.

But then, you think, What kind of Bible passage would be appropriate? I don't know. I just don't want the weirdness that I currently feel when we are near the subject to pervade the rest of the relationship.

Funny thing in that passage that I read today. God said that His word will never return to Him empty. Obviously His Word is a lot more obedient than His children because we would more often than not show back empty-handed. And then we would act surprised at God's disappointment.

But His Word always is able to accomplish something. That is helpful to me. Some time ago I began to change the way I thought about my sermons. Not every sermon I preach is a home run (believe it or not). But I have taken comfort in knowing that as long as I am sticking with Scripture, every sermon (no matter how well structured or delivered) does some good.

It's like breakfast. Sometimes it is bland. Just a bowl of bran flakes and cold milk. Sometimes it is amazing. It is a buffet of replenishing eggs and bacon and sausage and biscuits. Definitely the two breakfasts are in different leagues, but the accomplish the same purpose. They nourish your body.

We might not get overly amazed every time we read out of God's Word. We may even share a verse and it seems that it made little or not impact at all...but God promises that it always does what He intends. It nourishes. It fills up empty souls. It refuels the weary.

God's Word is so incredibly valuable. I want to move beyond my fears about talking about it with my father and just bring it up in our conversation with how God's Word helps me each day. I am going to trust that God will do the rest.

"Heavenly Father, I need your help and wisdom. I need you to enable me to speak boldly without fear of the effect upon the new relationship that you orchestrated. Give me tact and clarity. Give me the right opportunity. Season my weak words with Yours. I pray for my earthly father, Lord. Help me to learn to love him. Help me to see him as your lost child. In Jesus' Name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 4)

Today's Scriptures are Mark 10:46-52. I think my blindness is more pervasive at times than physical blindness. The problem with my blindness is that I like it. I don’t move myself to the roadside where Jesus might come by. I like to stay comfortable, in the darkness, abiding time in a recliner in a cave. But I need to begin to learn to position myself closer to Jesus.

I need to move beyond the darkness of the cave of my comfortable habits that keep me in darkness. I need to place myself along the roadside of accountability and friendship. I need to call out to Christ daily. I do that by opening the Word. As I do that, He passes near. What would I say if Jesus asked me the question, "What do you want me to do for you?"

That is a penetrating question. I want to see. But what would I see if Jesus really opened my eyes? (That thought is pretty scary to me as well.) I feel like Neo in the Matrix at times. Very comfortable with blindness...but the thing that is really real is that which is beyond my physical sight.

I want to see that reality at least once. I hope God will grant that for me before I die. I want to know how real the spiritual forces are that are all around me.

I guess I would ask Jesus to help me keep my eyes open. Maybe he works more like an opthamologist or optometrist...where he helps us find the right glasses. However it works, I would ask him to help me see. And in my 20/20 vision I might see how much damage my words can do to my two wonderful sons if I don't watch what I say. I might see how much heartache I can bring my wife when I work hard to preserve my selfishness. I might see a lot of things that would make me uncomfortable...but that would be a good thing.

"Lord, Jesus, help me...a poor, blind beggar. I cannot see unless you help me to. Give me vision. Lift the scales from my eyes. In Your Name."

If you're interested...

I have another blog that my sons and I have started together that is our place for our pics and discussions of all our reptile finds. You can view our new blog HERE. Let us know what you think.

My Encounter Journey (Day 3)

Today's Scriptures are Luke 24:1-33. This is the account of the resurrection of Christ and the two who were on the road to Emmaus and then Jesus covertly appeared to them without their knowing it was him. The coolest part for me is when Jesus begins to teach them the Scriptures in verse 27...it says that he began with Moses and all the prophets and taught them what the Scriptures say about Himself.

Can you imagine what that would be like to have a Bible Study with Jesus? I wonder if Jesus knew how to parse verbs and participles in Greek? I wonder if He pointed out what the "original words" meant as He taught?

Or I wonder if He simply taught from His heart on how God's Word was fulfilled and what that meant for them that day. I don't think Jesus got overly complicated, to be honest, but I don't know that for sure. It's just a hunch.

He was kind of like that when He taught. What's the greatest command? Love God. Oh yeah, love people too.

That's it. Not real tough stuff. No foraging through the woods of the original language. Just simple stuff for real people.

And the best part is how that simple teaching impacted people. For the two on the road to Emmaus it says that their hearts burned within them while Jesus opened the Scriptures to them. That's what I want. I want my heart to burn within me when I am in His Word. Because Jesus is there opening up His Word to me when I read it and spend time in it. He is sharing insights with me. And I desire to have that burning within (and I ain't talking about heartburn).

"Jesus, help me to know you more. Help me to fall in love with your Words. Teach me. Reveal to me the gems that Scripture contains. Help me to have a burning passion for knowing you through your Word. In your name."

My Encounter Journey (Day 2)

Today's Scriptures are Hebrews 4:12-13; Psalm 119:36; Psalm 119:97; Psalm 119:103-105; Psalm 119:111.

The Word of God needs to become something that I long for. I need to desire it like I want a Big Mac (and that sounds great right now). I need to value looking at my own heart through the lens of God's Word.

I believe that God is really trying to get me to get away from trying to help everyone else with the things I discover in the Word and to see the simple benefit of how it helps me. No sermon outlines, no great story for a message, nothing but me being in the Word and getting full on it.

I don't do that, to be honest. It is so hard to take off the Pastor glasses and set them aside and let God's Word do it's work in me. I want a freshness again from the Word. I want to begin to read God's Word with utter selfishness. I want to read it only for me...and to not think about how this would be great for so and so to hear. I want it for me.

"God, grant me the joy of having your Word do it's work in my heart. Let me be freed of seeing Scripture through others' eyes...let me see it for myself. Thank you Jesus for how you have spoken to us! In your name."

Reptile Enthusiasm

Okay, to spare you having to view any imagery of it if you don't want to, you can choose to click the link and go and watch our newest video of our most recent catch on a nice Spring Day. Click the link HERE to watch the video.

My Encounter Journey (Day 1)

Today's Scriptures are Psalm 119:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; and Joshua 1:8. It is clear from these verses that there is great inherent value in keeping the Scriptures in my heart and meditating on them daily. If I do this consistently I will be able to navigate life effectively.

I think that God is really working in my life. I need to be able to listen to Him. I need to keep myself from being distracted by the stuff of this world. I know that Joshua 1:8 speaks of prospering and being successful if I "do not let the book of the law depart from my mouth," but I am not interested in success, honestly. I just want to know God better than I do right now. Maybe that is success.

Success isn't accolades and bigger churches or more notoriety...it is being closer to my heavenly Father than I have ever been before in my life. I'll take that over a mega-church any day! I want that kind of success.

"Help me to learn to trust, read and breathe your Words, Father. Help them to be the only well that I drink from. Help me to draw from them in my time of trouble or temptation. Give me strength this day to glorify you in all ways. In Jesus' Name."

Encounter Launch

We launched the Encounter series this weekend. The whole goal of this series is to get people to get in the Word again and to get excited about their relationship with God again.

I hope and I pray that we can see transformation on a real level with people through this series. God desires to know us and to be known by us. And that requires more than Sunday-only Christianity.

I pray that our passion levels increase throughout this time.

My Week

Been a different week for me. Had a massive leak in our roof. Had some great help from a wonderful Christian brother and the major roof issue no longer exists. Thanks Bruce!

Getting ready for the new series Encounter this weekend. It will be a 30 day journey...with the sincere hope of moving people to a fresh encounter with their heavenly Father.

I have continued to be in contact with my natural father. That has been quite strange, to say the least. He had thrown out an idea of us getting together. Having to mull that one over for a while. I have sincerely enjoyed the conversations though. I genuinely believe he desires some kind of connection...not sure what yet, but we'll take it one day at a time.

He refers to me as "Buddy" when he talks to me. That makes me feel good and akward all at the same time. I still have difficulty when we are ending our conversations as to how I am supposed to refer to him. So I usually just say something like, "Well, it's been nice talking to you, see you later." But it feels strange.

None of this is perfect, I guess. But I know God wanted me to do this...to reconnect with my earthly father.

Ringing Ears and a Good Staff Meeting

Wow. Being over at the Earlham Church of Christ last night was fun. The line-up of bands was great...but man, oh man was it ever loud.

This morning we began to do something here in our staff that we probably should have been doing for a long time...but hey, it's me...never underestimate my power of ignorance. So we started a weekly meeting to just funnel through questions together.

Here's my five questions I brought to the table:

1) What is the best thing about your ministry right now?

2) What is giving you your greatest frustration right now?

3) What area do you feel like you need some help in (or at least some direction)?

4) Last Sunday:

*How was the flow of the service?
*What kind of impact did it have?
*What can we improve upon?

5) Do you know of anyone who is close to making a decision for Jesus right now?

The others brought questions as well. And it was good discussion. I think this is a good step for all of us. Isn't it funny how the simplest things are always the best?

Superchick in Earlham

Okay, I am in Earlham, IA having brought over 20 folks from our church to see Superchick in concert. Opening acts were decent (Disciple was too loud...wait, did I actually just say that?) but Superchick was fantastic! I won't hear anything for about a week! Oh well!

Encounter Teaser

While away in Oklahoma God spoke to me in a real way. I know he wants The Fort to become alive again. I believe we need to raise the bar on our passion level. I believe we need to re-encounter God again. So, here is the teaser for the series that begins next week...

Abiding Time In The Womb

I am reading a book by Vince Antonucci called I Became A Christian And All I Got Was This Lousy t-Shirt. This has been a great book so far. Chapter four is really interesting. He starts out the chapter by lamenting that people have a relationship with Jesus. He wishes that people wouldn't have a relationship with Jesus.

Sounds kind of weird, huh? Well, he explains that a relationship will change through time. But a more appropriate description would be an infant in his mother's womb. Where everything, absolutely everything that infant needs to survive comes from it's mother who he is literally inside of and swallowed up by.

In John 15:4-5, Jesus said that we must ABIDE with Him. That word ABIDE literally means "Live Within."

A baby (that's you and me) lives inside of his Mother (that's Christ). A baby (you and me) can't live without her (Christ). A baby (you and me) is totally dependent on her (Christ) for everything we receive. There is absolutely nothing that a baby (you and me) can do on his own.

So maybe you don't need a relationship with Christ...maybe you need to become utterly dependent on Jesus for absolutely everything and then, and maybe then, will you realize that is the kind of life he is calling you to live.

One Prayer is coming to The Fort...

Here it is...

It is an amazing idea, an amazing opportunity, an amazing prayer! It begins for us in June!

Okay, here's what God has been doing in my life...

As you know, I went to Oklahoma City for the MinistryTECH Conference. Well, that's what I thought I was going to Oklahoma for...but God had a whole other reason for me. I referenced Here that when I was visited Life Church that Craig Groeschel's message affected me greatly. Here's what I was talking about...

About two weeks ago, my aunt in California had contacted me via e-mail to tell me she had been in contact with my natural father. My natural father left my home when I was 18 months old. He has never called, he has never written, he has never attempted any contact.

She let me know what his phone number was and encouraged me to contact him. I printed out that e-mail and took it home to show my wife. She asked me what I thought about it all. I told her I wasn't sure. We decided that it would be best to just leave things alone. There's no reason opening up a box like that and getting involved in something that could be potentially harmful emotionally. So I forgot about it...until I went to Life Church.

That evening, Craig preached from Malachi 4:6. He laser-beam focused the message specifically on sons forgiving their fathers and reconnecting with their fathers.

That message wrecked me. I couldn't even speak when we left. Kyle wanted to know what I had thought of everything and all I could do was choke back my tears.

Later that very evening, I called my natural father. After several bumbling attempts I left a voice mail message on his cell phone. I heard my earthly father's voice for the first time in my life (I'm 37 years old). I can't tell you how that has impacted me as well.

I am not desiring an Oprah Winfrey Reunion with him. But we have talked now twice on the phone. The second conversation was longer than the first. We have decided to take it one conversation and one e-mail at a time.

I am blown away by our God. He is the master orchestrator. He doesn't care what you think you are doing. He is always working out his plan in spite of your own plans. I just want to be obedient to him. I want him to finish this work he has began in me...whatever the heck that is.

I know my natural father is not a Christian. I don't know if I am supposed to help out with that or not...but I will simply obey what Jesus is wanting me to do.

God really is an amazing God!

Home!

Back home. There is nothing, I mean nothing like coming home when you have been away for a while. I am going to unplug the phone tonight and snuggle with my honey later and love on my boys a while. I love my family! They give me oxygen!

Passion, Intention, Sermon-Driven...Life Church

Life Church was the experience that Kyle and I were really waiting for. We went to the Oklahoma City Campus tonight for their 5PM slot. We toured their church yesterday and was able to take it all in and see behind the scenes.

Let me share with you some pictures from it all and then my observations about Life Church...

The picture above is their stage for their current series "Warrior".

This picture above is one of the many wonders awaiting the kids who enter "Toon Town" (Part of the Lifekids Ministry of their church.

Here's Kyle and I onstage next to one of the Warrior guys. (If you're wondering, they are from styrofoam and they had a guy artistically cut them with a chain saw.)

Here is a shot of part of the control room on the main campus that handles everything in full HD and is also their satellite uplink center. (There is a lot of equipment in there that I had no idea what it was...but there was a lot of Mac's in there.) Oh and check this other picture out...

This little device sits on the wall next to the door of the control room. It is a fingerprint scanner and will only unlock the door if your fingerprint is approved! Can you believe that? One more picture and then I'll give you my observations...

Here is a shot of worship live that I took during the 5:00PM service on Saturday night. They rocked the house!

Things that I observed:

*Passion was everywhere. I don't know what it is. But from every staff person to people who were just sitting in front of me in church, even the people that greeted me when I walked in. There was undeniable passion in their eyes. They were excited about their church. They were plugged in at their church. They loved their church.

*This is a sermon-driven church. I cannot effectively communicate to you how many places we simply saw the sermon. They had the image of the sermon on a GIANT poster in the parking lot as we drove in. The volunteers had the image of the sermon on their T-Shirts as they greeted us. The worship bulletin had the image of the sermon on it. Their were banners of the sermon image on various walls as we walked in. And, you've already seen what the inside of the auditorium looked like. The sermon is literally imprinted on you everywhere and every way they can possibly think of. It is a unifying and momentum building thing to see such an emphasis on the sermon.

*This is an intentional church.They wanted to make sure I left with a clear understanding of the message. All obstacles are removed. There was great intentionality in making sure that the message gets received as easily as possible.

Overall, we were blown away. And to be frank, the message was something that rattled my cage spiritually (it was all about sons reconnecting with their fathers). I left very, very affected by what I had seen and heard and experienced.

I cannot be Life Church. The Fort is who we are. I don't want to come home and try to replicate. What I do want to come home with is the passion. The intentionality. I want God to move our people to be more passionately in love with Jesus. I want us to be so in love with God that our noses start to bleed.

We need more passion. I was going to be starting a sermon series on the differences between men and women...not now. That's being shelved for later (maybe never)...we need to get our passion fires lit. God is in the driver's seat for the next sermon series.

I have no idea yet, but I do feel God stirring deeply in my heart...and I love it. I want it. I need it.

I can't be Craig Groeschell. I can only be me. I don't want to copy him. I want his passion though. I want his vision. I want to get a hold of that.

MinistryTECH Final Day

Well...today was the final day of MinistryTECH. The day began with Terry Storch who spoke to us about being an Idiot (actually it was awesome and it really hit home...I'm an idiot too Terry!)

That was followed up by Kyle and I splitting up. He went to a breakout session on Audio Visuals and I went to a session with Terry Storch where we just asked him a barrage of questions. Good stuff.

A quick lunch and then Kyle and I were off to see a movie. We got back before the final session. The final session was Paul Braoudakis who spoke about us being change agents. It may not have been the best in delivery terms but it was a quality message nonetheless.

The whole deal was capped off by a trip to Life Church - Oklahoma City Campus. I will blog more on this tomorrow, but all I can say for now is: WOW! What a place?! What vision?! What an amazing group of people!

Now, I've also been talking about some of the amazing restaurants that we have enjoyed since we've been here. Well, here's our run down so far.

Day 1: Supper at Ted's Cafe Escondido. What a great meal! Kyle wasn't blown away by his meal but I was by mine (I had fajitas). Here's a pic of the place...


Day 2: Supper at Steve's Rib...and yes, I spelled it right. It's Rib (singular)...don't ask me why. But this was spectacular! We both loved our meal. Neither one of us finished our plates...


Day 3: During the day, we stopped by a fast food joint I had never heard of until coming here: Whataburger. I would rate it only average...it wasn't the best burger I have ever had, but it did hit the spot. Here's a shot of the place we stopped at...

A little later that day, after the Life Church tour, we went to Hideaway Pizza. This is definitely an Oklahoma-only Pizza restaurant. Let me tell you. It was fabulous! Kyle and I were very excited about this meal. Check out these pictures...




On a side-note, our waiter was named "Seth"...an obviously lost individual. We showed him some kindness and talked with him about attending Life Church sometime in the future. He said he would do that. Pray for Seth, pray that he follows through and attends church there soon. One visit would change his life forever.

Tomorrow Kyle and I are hanging out in Oklahoma for another full day. We are going to Geocache in a few of the parks around Edmond. And then we are going to visit the Federal Building (the site of the Bombing) and then we will attend Life Church and top it all off with a visit to another Oklahoma-only restaurant Zio's (Italian Cuisine).

I'll post more tomorrow night!

MinistryTECH first day

Well...today was the first full day of the MinistryTECH Conference. The opening session was led by Tony Morgan, he is the co-author of Simply Strategic Growth.

He gave a speech entitled "10 Reasons why Techies Scare Me." Here's the list (without any explanations):

1. Techies assume everyone thinks like a techie.
2. Techies don't bend on standardization.
3. Techies Hire the best geeks rather than the best leaders.
4. Techies always want more staff.
5. Techies always want more stuff.
6. Techies don't document processes.
7. Techies implement technology solutions without considering the strategic systems.
8. Techies implement technology solutions without communicating with the team.
9. Techies focus on implementation without creating systems for training and support.
10. Techies let technology drive the ministry rather than letting ministry drive the technology.

That was good and it was a real hullabaloo getting to meet Tony...


Unfortunately there was only one other session that was really that beneficial. Although, the networking was good. Supper was awesome later that evening! I will post tomorrow on some of our great local Oklahoma Dining experiences we have had (and so far they have been great!)

We're Here!

Wow...after nine hours in the car, and a seriously sore butt, we made it to Edmond, OK for the MinistryTECH Conference. We missed the arranged tour at several churches but we stopped in at Life Church and got a behind the scenes tour of things. Here's a couple pics of things we've seen...

This is Life Church's (Edmond Campus) big old cross that you can see plain as day as you come into Edmond off of I-35 South.

This is the control center for the Edmond Campus of Life Church.