Update on Dad

Thanks for all your prayers.  My dad is stable but in pretty rough shape.  They didn't catch him before the 3 hour window that can make all the difference in rehabilitating most of the stroke damage.  He is at Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital (where he worked as a chemist for 40 years) and they are performing an MRI today.  I'll be heading up to Detroit after services tomorrow.  My mom felt that not much will change between now and then, so we're going with that.  

Specifics for prayer:

1. My mom and I will need to make some pretty tough decisions regarding my dad's care from here on out.  This could include semi-permanent nursing home care.
2. My mom's house is way too big for her to handle and though she has been doing most of the maintenance (and hiring a lot), she'll probably need to move.  The Detroit housing market STINKS, so we'll need that to pray about.
3. If my dad somehow is able to recover from all of this, his "good leg" often will get a bed sore on the heel which takes months to heal because of his diabetes and poor circulation. If we could pray for a well-taken-care-of heel, that would rock.

Thanks again everyone for all the well wishes and prayers.   

Prayers Needed

Hi everyone,

Just need prayers for my dad, Bob, who had a stroke this morning.  He has total paralysis on his entire left side.  He was taken to the hospital this morning by ambulance.  My mom is shaken.  Our hope is in Christ that His Kingdom is revealed in all of this.  

5 Years (and 3 days)

I just remembered that it was five years ago on August 24th that I came to Granger Community Church to be "Pastor of Music and Drama".  Since then, my role has evolved to drop the "drama" part of the title.  Kristin Baker is much more capable than I and is running point on an amazing drama ministry.

Five things I've learned in these past five years (I've learned a lot more, but this is a blog you know):

• It's either about Jesus or about me; it can't be both.
• Prepping to lead worship is much more than musical - it's "on your face time" before God 
• The team outperforms the individual in the long run, everytime.
• The three P's of ministry with volunteers: PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE.
• Key friendships are just that, KEY.

We've grown so much here.  I'm thankful for 5 great years.  GCC is a great people to be part of.

Chalk Dan

This is me through the eyes of my daughter Sophie.  Check out the sweet KICKS!  

"For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10

Creating Space

This morning I had the chance to have my monthly breakfast with my daughter Anna.  We head to Bob Evans restaurant on or around her birthday date each month.  I stole this idea from Mark Beeson about a year ago.  She ALWAYS gets the Little Farmer's breakfast (which is quite the deal for $3.00).  I ALWAYS try to LISTEN with both my EARS and my HEART.  Making the space for this is crucial to me in really knowing my daughters well (I do this with Sophie too).  

This particular morning was great since we had a chance to wander the campus of Notre Dame as well.  Through a few comments that Anna made, I was able to literally hear her heart.  Knowing what my daughter is going through allows me to be much more specific in my prayers for them.  I have a focus for this next season that I will bring before Christ daily, on behalf of Anna.  I'm fully expecting God to do some amazing things in this area of her life.  

Without the breakfast and the time to just pull away from everything that distracts - TV, computer, cell phone, etc - I would not have had the opportunity to hear this.  I'm grateful for Anna and for the time we intentionally spend together.

Thoughts on Worship

I've been reading Marva Dawn's book: Reaching Out without Dumbing Down.  It has been challenging me in several ways with regard to worship.  I don't agree with all that she writes (as if that would be a good thing).  I do love her heart.

Here are a few things I like so far:

• "The entire act of Christian worship is a gift to God of the entirety of the worshipers' lives."  This goes against an attitude which might say "I didn't get anything out of the service today."  Ultimately, who are we gathering for?  Us or God?
• "Genuine praise of God depends upon truth.  It is not just an attitude of appreciation or an emotion of well-being or delight; instead, it acknowledges a superlative quality or deed.  Praise does not express our own yearnings or wishes; it responds to something given to us."  This is a what we are moving to at GCC.  More time to respond to God's truth.  I think it's working.  It is so good to be presented with truth and then have the space to process it and ultimately respond in praise of the One who allows us to recognize it.
• "Churches actually do worship participants a disservice if their praise of God ignores life's harsh realities and God's presence in the midst of them.  To be only upbeat is to be unbiblical."  Agreed.  If people experience only the aspect of joy in church, they may come to suspect that the people of the church are plastic.  That "real life" is being swept under the rug while we put on happy smiles for weekend services.
• "Worship must center on God, glorify Christ, involved people, express praise, communicate the truth of the Bible, encourage faith, promise redemption, reflect the incarnation, build up the Church, instill vision, make an offering, nurture communion, and evoke an 'Amen'."  This is certainly not an exhaustive list (from C. Welton Gaddy), but it is a good place to start.  The challenge is to discern what emphasis God desires in a given service.  Obviously all of these elements cannot receive the same amount of attention in one service.  In the fullness worship over a given season, I agree that these should be covered.

As we move through different changes at GCC, I'm sure we'll continue to wrestle with defining what our worship looks like.  I'm thrilled at this challenge.

Our Newest Family Member

We just picked this little guy (or girl) up last night.  Waiting on the name since our hamster will be shared with Lisa's Montessori classroom.  The thing is just so stinkin' cute.  It's so cute, that I'll tolerate poop.  Yes, it pooped on me about 12 times when I held it this morning.  Should be a fun pet.

TODAY

This is me.  Many moons ago, in ancient times, when bad hair days meant something to me.

I am older now.  

I have less hair.

I believe I have more wisdom.

I am less fully dependent on others.

I am more in need of true friends.

I need an "'atta boy!" less.

I choose to give extravagant encouragement whenever possible.

I have less time to sleep.

I make more time to dream.

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." 1 Cor. 13:11

I'm thankful that God has given me the incredibly blessed life that I have.  A Savior who lives, breathes, and is fully present in every aspect of my life.  A wife who shows me what true loyalty and sacrifice is all about.  Two kids who help me learn to celebrate the JOY of the moment.  A church that, beyond a shadow of a doubt, has helped me draw closer to God.  Friends who lift me up and challenge me to greater things.  Today, I am truly grateful.  TODAY is the best gift I can receive.

New Blog

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to let you all know that I'm switching the series on OneThought to a new blog at www.onethought.net.  

My hope and desire is that this will be a helpful tool for people desiring to simplify by simply focusing on OneThought each day based on Scripture.  I may add images in the future.  If you have any ideas for making that particular site more engaging, let me know.  This blog, will be more sharing of what God has going on in our lives as a family, church and community.  Thanks.  Take care.

One Thought

Today:

HOLY

"As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy." 1 Peter 1:14-15

One Thought

Today:

TRANSFORMED

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1

One Thought

Today:

BELIEVE

"Then the man said, 'Lord, I believe,' and he worshiped him." John 9:38

One Thought

Today:

GOOD

"Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" Psalm 34:8

One Thought

Today:

SATISFIED

"My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you." Psalm 63:5

One Thought

Today:

PRAY

"This, then, is how you should pray:

'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'"

One Thought

Today:

SING

"Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting of the upright to praise him. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy." Psalm 33:1,3

One Thought

Today:

ABBA

"For you have not received a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15

One Thought

Today:

PEACE

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

One Thought

Today:

HOPE

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23