STOMP

Christy and I went to STOMP last night at the PAC. It was incredible!! The music was great, the presentation was great, the way they so many different sounds and tones out of the different items was pure genius! It's not cheap, but if you ever get a chance, go to it!

Google Maps

A lady in our church showed me this... Go to Google Maps (www.maps.google.com) and select Chicago as your starting point. Then ask for directions to there from London. Look at step number 20.

My passion

In an attempt to be a better blogger, I've been reading some how to's. The biggest suggestion was to blog about what you are passionate about. The ironic thing is that I'm pretty sure that no one is even reading these. I'm only doing these because I hope some day to author a book, and I believe blogging will help me get practice in organizing my thoughts.
So, my passions... #1 is my relationship with God. I have a theory. We've all read the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman. One of the way some people primarily show and express love is through acts of service. That is my love language, and how I show my love to God. It's not working to saved, but working because I'm saved.
#2 is my wife. She's an incredible woman, who loves me very much. I'm not sure why... She works her butt off every day so that I can pursue my third passion
#3 Being in the ministry. It's what I'm called to do, it's who I am.
#4 Geocaching. If you've done it, you understand.
#5 Family. I'm surrounded by incredible family members.
#6 Alaska. If you've been here, you understand.

Geocaching

Other than church and family, geocaching is Christy and mine's biggest hobby. Any chance we get we got out. It's a great way to get some exercise and see more of the greatest state in the world.

Am I Newsworthy?

I was just reading in Romans, Chapter 1, verse 8, where Paul is saying that he thanks God for these believers in Rome because "your faith is being reported all over the world. (NIV)"
Whatever it was that this church, this group of believers was doing was being reported and spoken about throughout the whole world! Was is their love for each other, or miracles, or their stand for righteousness in corrupt world? Was it healings, demonstrations of the Spirit's power or good works? It had to be something real and tangible, something that people could see.
In our world today, if a Hollywood star or politician sneezes it makes the headlines at cnn.com. We have an overwhelming amount of real time news at our command. Now compare that to the world Paul lived in, where a simple journey could take days, weeks, months. And yet, in that "primitive" society, the church was being spoken about around the world.
This forces me to look at two questions:
1. Is there anything in my life of faith that can be seen? Is there any tangible, quantifiable results of the hope I profess?
2. Are those results newsworthy? Jesus "made headlines." In Acts 17.6, Paul & Silas' activities were known. Is there anything in my life, am I doing anything with this salvation I have received that is worth reporting?
2 Corinthians 6.1 tells us not to receive God's grace in vain. The word vain there means empty. Is there anything to my life, or is just empty?
God, I desire to live a life that will make headlines "for your name's sake. (Rom 1.5)"

So, we are here practicing for our Easter Illustrated Sermon... We have just a couple of practices left. We use to practice for months, and it got real old. Now we slam it into less than two weeks. A little more intense, but it doesn't drag on and on. Pastor Ed always has incredible Illustrated Sermons. They are not entertainment for the church, but a tool to reach the lost!
We have a cross on the platform that is about 20 feet tall. We have a ladder up to the cross piece, and a pile of mattresses below. We are going to do a human video to "Dive" from Steven Curtis Chapman, and a parade of brave souls will go up the ladder, across the cross piece and then dive about 15 feet. It's going to be pretty insane. After Easter, you can view the video at our media site at www.wasillaag.net.
And if you live in the area... be sure and stop by on Friday or Sunday.

Top Ten Signs Your Pastoral Church Job Search Is Not Going Well

Top Ten Signs Your Pastoral Church Job Search Is Not Going Well

10. Average time between sending in application and receiving rejection notice: 5-7 minutes.

9. On eight different job search websites there’s a picture of you with the caption “Don’t bother applying.”

8. You keep getting responses rejecting you for the position but encouraging you to apply for “Pastor of Folding Bulletins.”

7. Every opening you see needs a minimum of 25 years experience at a church of at least 10,000 members.

6. You find out that the "salary package + health benefits" for your "perfect job" consist of "Love Offerings" and some Band-Aids.

5. The search committee asks if you'd be willing to accept a salary cut in order to pay for their tickets to see the local NASCAR race.

4. One position involves you signing an affidavit insisting that you've "never struggled with worry, doubt, confusion or disagreeing with your spouse.?

3. When you call to follow up on your resume, the church secretary hangs up on you. After swearing at you.

2. You and your family might be able to make the salary package work if the government repeals the child labor laws.

1. The head elder says "We’ll pitch the parsonage for you as soon as we can find some stakes."