- Well that was interesting.
- Figures that on Christmas weekend we get a huge snow storm that kept all but the die-hards from coming out.
- 2 or 3 times per year the message is purely evangleistic in anticipation that many unsaved people will be in attendance.
- We you have 50 feet of snow (give or take a few feet) it means basically only Christians are going ot be there.
- Surprisingly though we still had 2 people commit to Jesus for the first time.
- That’s awesome!
- The team had fun with today’s Experience.
- Did you ever in your life think that you would go to church and get to hit beach balls around?
- The Party series has been both fun and impactful.
- 18 people have now become Christians during this series.
- I loved the music today…a great mix of hard and fun to soft and thought provoking.
- As Lisa said, “It was amazing to see the same people who were having fun with beach balls at the beginning, crying at the end as they reflected on the condition of their souls”.
- Cressa, Jenny, Andrea and Gayle did awesome on both O Holy Night and It Is Well.
- I laughed in both Experiences during the Awareness Test videos when people realized they had been tricked.. In case you weren’t with us, check them out. Awareness Test 1. Awareness Test 2.
- When I walked off stage during the 1st Experience I was carrying my chair off as well so I forgot to turn my mic pack off. Apparently you could hear me briefly talking backstage…oops.
- All in all not a bad considering all that was happening.
- I’m currently typing this and observing the team as they practice for Christmas Eve.
- Be sure to join us at 5:30 for what should be a memorable Experience.
Inside Today’s Experiences
- Wow that was too much fun as we kicked off our Party series.
- I love it when things just sort of click and everything comes together.
- Even better two more people became followers of Christ today!
- The morning started out normally but something happened to my right contact during the set-up time. I couldn’t see…so I had to call Lisa to bring me a fresh set.
- Missy Kibbe did a great job of getting the refreshments set up and welcoming the early crowd to the party.
- By the time Brian got the party song started, the energy was already high.
- We’ve been wanting to do that song for a few years now and it finally made sense to do it.
- Loved seeing everyone singing, dancing, shouting, pumping their fists in the air…awesome!
- Brian and his team created an incredible stage design.
- When during the middle of Party all the lights finally came up…you could see the wow look on people’s faces.
- When it came time for the band to cover Trans Siberian Orchestra’s, Carol of the Bells, I was super nervous.
- They worked for hours on Thursday night just on that song.
- In case you couldn’t see it, Adam and Andrew were both getting quite the finger workout.
- Basically if you can pull off something like that you can do anything…both of them stepped up big time and did an awesome job.
- Thanks also to the rest of the team for their parts as well…especially Gayle who played what is meant for 4 keyboards on one by dividing our keyboard into basically two. Her left hand was playing one instrument her right hand the other.
- If you’ve ever been to or seen Trans Siberian, you know the crazy light shows that accompany their music. I thought considering our budget is a good million or two less than theirs, Brian did an awesome job creating a light show to match.
- I told the 11:15 crowd how rowdy the early crowd was and gave them a chance to outshout the early group…man I couldn’t believe the lungs you people have. :)
- I was pleased with both messages and pray that it will have a lasting impact on people.
- I also found out afterwards that over $6000 more dollars came in today to benefit needy families in our area. Thanks for stepping up to the challenge that both Earl and myself gave this past week.
- Again this year we should be able to help approximately40 families who wouldn’t have a Christmas except for our help.
- Already looking forward to next week…going to keep the Party going!
Annual Thanksgiving Post
Since I started blogging a few years back, I’ve always done a post on Thanksgiving for the things I’m thankful for in the past year. This year is no different, so here we go…
- I’m thankful that my relationship with Jesus only gets better and grows deeper each and every year. I am nothing and would be utterly useless without Him.
- Speaking of a growing relationship, I sometimes find it hard to imagine that after 14 years of marriage that Lisa and I could love each other more than we did the day we got married, yet we do. She inspires to be all that God has created me to be and is a wonderful example of his love and servanthood to me every single day. I don’t deserve it, but yet she keeps on doing it…I love Lisa!
- I’m thankful for a family and extended family that love me and support me no matter what I do. Let’s face it…going from a professional magician to business owner, to pastor is not the most likely of career paths yet they’ve stuck by me each step of the way and support me the best they can considering the distance we live from one another. To all my family…I love you and thanks!
- I’m thankful to Andy and Gayle for making me aware of United 3 1/2 years ago and inviting to be a part of it. Wow who would have ever thought that it would be and become all that it has? Oh yeah…that would be you guys who believed in the power of God and my leadership enough to jump in with both feet despite your jobs and busy family life. Thanks for your 10+ years of friendship (our late Thursday night dinners are something I greatly look forward to)…can’t wait to see what the next 10 look like.
- Speaking of 10+ years of friendship, I’m thankful for Bill and Nicole who every Sunday take such good care of Lisa and I. Hardly a Sunday goes by that you don’t fix dinner for us and provide a relaxing atmosphere for us to unwind and enjoy your company. You’re friendship and the practical ways in which you help us has kept us sane…thank you, thank you , thank you!
- I’m thankful for the team that God has placed around me. I laugh anytime says that United is just a one man show…if only they knew the dozens of you who work so hard (mostly behind the scenes) to make Jesus name be known. I may get some of the accolades, but remember that is my reward…what you’re doing may not always get noticed by man, but God sees it and you will be eternally rewarded for your hard work and sacrifice in heaven.
- I especially want to thank our worship team and techs. As the years have gone on, my Thursday night role has diminished but yet I keep showing up anyway. Why? Because I so much enjoy my friendships with each one of you and the team camaraderie that we’ve built. I get to see first hand the amount of time and sacrifice you all give to make Sunday’s an Experience for people, not just a service we offer. Your excellence inspires me…thank you!
- I’m thankful for our church as a whole…5 Services and Experiences with 4 different worship styles could be a major trainwreck but it’s not. For the most part everyone realizes that it takes all kinds of people and services to reach our community so you’re very supportive. Thank you!
- Misc. thanks… new web-site, new blog site, new friendships, new laptop, Lisa’s surgery yesterday went well, opportunities to travel.
- Finally I want to thank God for being fully in control of all aspects of my life…God I thank you for giving it all for me, now help me to do the same for you.
Inside Today’s Experiences
- Had a lot of fun today.
- Any time I get to share vision, I’m especially amped up.
- Things ran really smoothly today which is always a nice thing.
- The 9:45 crowd was rocking…love when I can hear you guys singing your hearts out.
- All the team did an exceptional job…great job guys and gals.
- Wow for the second week in a row, Gayle made me cry.
- We are so blessed to have some world class female singers in the church.
- I love how God takes the words I’ve been preparing with His help for weeks and then transforms them into something completely different on Sunday’s.
- I felt really good about both messages but they came out so different.
- Wasn’t sure which one to post, but finally went with the 9:45.
- My prayer is that this message will sink in and all of us, would see the lost and hurting in our community as our problem.
- For this week’s Reality Check video with Satan, click here.
- I’m taking the creative team away this afternoon through tomorrow so we can pray and brainstorm what the 2010 series schedule will look like…keep us in prayer.
Inside Today’s Experience
- Weird day only having one Experience.
- Weird things happened as well.
- We found a mouse nest in the tech room.
- And we had some lights doing some crazy things during the Experience.
- Hope the mice aren’t chewing the wires making that happen.
- In any case no one probably knew about the lighting problems because they were actually creating a neat effect.
- It’s hard not to sound biased since Gayle is one of my best friends, but her singing today was awesome.
- Love the new song “Revelation Song” which she led…wow…I couldn’t help but to just fall to my knees backstage and worship!
- As always we had a lot of fun shooting the videos fro this series.
- Brian does an incredible job as Satan and thanks to Scott McCurley for playing the role of Reality.
- To watch me get “Reality Checked”, you can watch the video here.
- Wasn’t really sure I was pleased with today’s message going into it, but I was pleased with what came out.
- Think it gave everyone a lot to think about.
- God is good in that way…in my weakness, He is strong.
- After United, it was a quick turnover to reset the room and get everyone ready for the capital campaign kick-off service in the sanctuary.
- Great job by Juanita Kauffman and her team in organizing everything.
- In my 3 years of being at the church, that’s probably the best combined service we’ve ever had.
- It’s so hard combining so many styles and have everyone be pleased with it, but I think today’s service was very respectful to everyone and was actually quite good.
- I was told my job was to get the crowd fired up…think it worked. :)
- The meal with everyone was also really cool…who knew we could put 550+ people in the gym and feed them all.
- Got to meet a lot of people during the meal, including a former classmate of mine.
- That now makes 3 other people from my graduating class that attend United.
- What’s amazing about that is we grew up 45 minutes away.
- All in all, a good day!
- Time for a quick nap then off to friend’s house for dinner.