Top Ten List

Before I die…
I was going through an old file today and came across a top ten list I had made over 6 years ago with a small group Jenny and I were in.  It was one of those “10 things I want to do before I die” types of lists.  Thought it was fascinating…I’d say a few things differently today, but it is a pretty true snapshot of me…

1. Lead a continuously growing church
2. Baptize my children
3. Hold a world record in something
4. Write a book
5. Travel to space
6. Serve a single church for more than 20 years
7. Have a personal conversation with the world’s most influential person
8. Watch my children baptize my grandchildren
9. Be at my parents sides when they die
10. Never get to the point of bitterness…about anything.

You should try it.  Even if it isn’t 10, I’d love to hear some of yours.

Mix Tape2

 

We’ve had quite a few questions on the “invitation” cassette tapes we gave out Sunday!

First, I didn’t explain very well on Sunday that using Cassette Tapes instead of CD’s or something was kind of a retro joke.  Some of the songs we are using in the series are from the Cassette Tape era so we thought it would be fun to call the series “Mix Tape”.  Some of you know exactly what I’m saying when I use that phrase “Mix Tape” – it’s the tape you made of favorite songs (often for your girlfriend) by recording different songs off the radio or other tapes!  I have a reliable source that says some guys like Doug Gamble actually talked on the tape between songs, whispering sweet inspirations to girl who would later become his wife!  Kind of sickening, isn’t it?  J Click here for more info on mix tapes. 

Anyway, the other thing I didn’t explain well on Sunday was that we were just trying to be creative on the style of the invitation – using a tape instead of a postcard or business card to put our service times on along with the upcoming topics.  So the main idea wasn’t to listen to something on the tape, but instead to put something in your hands to give to your friend, neighbor, family member, etc.  Most of the tapes that went out Sunday were blank and intended to be used just this way.  As some of you gave me a hard time about Sunday, where would you find a tape player anyway? 

At the same time, some of you may have received a little bonus…a tape with short tracks of the songs and some conversation about the message series.  It’s really informal and one of those things where we thought… “No one will probably actually stick this in a tape player, but if they do, let’s surprise them with something.”  In the implementation of this idea, we learned our old tape duplication equipment is not exactly in working order…so most of the tapes got nothing.  Sorry for any confusion this may have caused. Don’t let it keep you from using the tapes or just inviting people this Sunday! 

Who is close to you, but far from God?  I promise you I will do my best in teaching Sunday to help them see the value of taking steps toward God.   Jenny and I went to dinner with our neighbors last night and they said yes to our invitation to church this Sunday.  I’m so excited…and it makes me so want Suncrest to make the very best first impression on Sunday.  Will you do me a favor and be extra-friendly this Sunday?  Greet people warmly who you don’t recognize.  Help people find their way around if they look uncomfortable.  Worship genuinely.

Mix Tape

We start a new series this week called “Mix Tape”.  If you don’t know what a Mix Tape is, I’ll have more on that later.  For what it’s worth, on Week 1 we are using the song “Life is  Highway” to introduce some themes about what life is…and what it isn’t.

 Remember this song?  It was originally done by Robert Cochran then recently re-done by Rascal Flatts and featured in the Movie Cars.

Enjoy…

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Rascal FlattsLife Is A Highway

Music Videos And Lyrics On Demand

Connecting…

Wrote the following last week for our weekly suncrest update.  Can’t wait until our group meets tonight…

 

444 of you are experiencing something powerful this week – a Suncrest Community Group!  Mary Beth Stockdale, her Group Leaders and her Coaches (leaders of group leaders) have poured themselves into helping us process what it means to grow as a Christ-follower.  We’ve never seen such an amazing response in people getting into groups.

And after last night, I believe we will see an equally amazing response to what happens in the groups.  Jenny and I hosted ours last night and it was a blast.  We met new people and  I’m outrageously excited…

It’s not just because I have a carpenter and a mechanic in my group, though that could come in handy J. 

It’s not just because we have a pilot in our group who flies all over the world and told me I could ride along sometime J. 

It’s because of everyone in our group meeting for the first time, and anticipating what God might do through it. 

It’s because of the potential for new friendships…friendships of substance….and not just with me, but watching people connect with each other.

It’s because we have people who might be in different places on their spiritual journeys, but are all committed to moving forward. 

It’s because we have some awesome women in our group who I saw my wife connecting with last night over dessert. 

It’s because we have two couples who couldn’t make it last night, but will just add to this whole experience next week.

We tackled Connect this past Sunday.  And we have Cultivate this Sunday (awesome stuff about what it means to have a relationship with Jesus).  But I have to give you the heads up on the following Sunday, October 7.  Here’s all you need to know…It is “Contribute by Serving” Sunday and it would be awesome if you block out about 90 minutes after whichever church service you attend!  We’ll let the rest be a surprise.