MOMENTUM CATCHUP

 

• Francis Chan. I have never seen him when he was anything but amazing. 
• It is great to see our 9 OB students again.
• It was even greater to see them huddled up with our group tonight and hear their hearts together.  We touched on the tip of the iceberg how we can take Micah 6:8 home.
• Micah 6:8 is a passage that can really kick your butt when you look at some situations around the world. I am trying to decide what it means for me and HSM to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.
• Aaron Shust is a manly worship leader.  He has a different refreshing quality than most guys these days.
• Having said that I am waaaaay to excited for Steve Fee to be here.  Like Francis he is gifted at putting the emphasis on God and it is exciting to be around.
• I have a man crush on Steve Fee.  I also have one on Albert Pujols.
• I taught a sponge session called lovedatinglustsexmarriage!  today.  I think it went well. I heard positive things. Had around 250 so I was happy with the turnout.
• Dave Nicodemus and I are doing the pre-session openers this year. So far we have done “what would you do for a Monster?”, singing bee, and stupid human tricks. It has been tons of fun to get to interact with the conference. I would say the tricks one tonight was the most fun.
• Sorry Mom, still haven’t put the pics up of Malachi or vacation.
• Fighting a cold of sorts.
• Love my new backpack and having my mac at my fingertips all day.
• Went for a late nite milkshake run last night with some OB leaders.
• I took a nap today. I never take naps. I think the last time I took a nap was like April.
• Spent some quality time with my friend Doug today. Good conversation.
• So many people here who I want to talk and catch up with….so little time.
• Off to bed. Kristin and I are in bunk beds.  It’s like we are back in the I Love Lucy Era

TO JOSH ATKINS

Because Josh Atkins asked for a hip hop update. I thought I would share with the world that I am really digging the song Get Like Me (Stuntin’ is a habit) featuring Chris Brown by David Banner. I will post pics and a momentum update tomorrow after I sleep. 

5 THINGS I LEARNED FROM THE OB TEAM VISIT

Here is that Operation Barnabas update I promised.

 

1.     There is a 40% chance that an OB team visiting your church will have to go to the emergency room.  We hit the lottery with Jacob’s ankle.

2.     McDonalds is still an option

3.     They really do love everything just like their motto says.

4.     White Grace Brethren kids still can’t and never will be able to dance

5.     When students and leaders sacrificially give up their summers to encourage others and share Christ they catch fire and it is great to be around.

THAT GUY WHO ALWAYS PLAYS GUITAR

I think everyone has heard of the site Stuff Christians Like by now. I saw this post on their the other day and I loved it. I pretty much went into guitar playing/worship leading hibernation in college because of guys like the one mentioned in the post. Not that I am so awesome but it is good to be able to play and lead worship once in a while without fear of being “that guy”. 

OPERATION BARNABAS

Tonight we had an Operation Barnabas team arrive at our church.  I have been excited for this team to arrive for a couple of reasons because….

1. I went on OB in high school
2. I met my wife on that team in high school
3. I met 4 guys in my wedding that summer
4. I led OB in 2005
5. HSM and Grace Church have 9 students on OB teams this summer
6. I haven’t worked at a church when an OB team visited.
7. We have some awesome ministry planned including a special needs camp, an inner city FCA camp happening at our church, and of course manual labor.
8. I have some great friends who are leaders on this team. (It was so encouraging to hear of their summer already and see what God is teaching them and doing through them).

 

We are hosting OB orientation next year at our church and I am honored to train, assist, and send off 100 ministry minded high schoolers for the summer.

Stay tuned for an update of how this week goes.

SAYING GOODBYE TO 2002

To make room for being a dad I have had to part with some things.  My turntables got sold and my music gear is now kept in a closet so we could have a nursery.  Below is a picture of me throwing some old clothes out a couple of weeks ago.  In 2002 when I was at the peak of my ghettoness and Eminem and 8 Mile were huge I rocked this velour suit to death.  Before I gave it to goodwill I took one last pic with Malachi in his velour suit that he is quickly outgrowing.  You can take our suits, but as the pic shows we will always be thugs.

Goodbye 2002.

REDHEADED POP-HOP?

I had the chance to bring a little hip-hop to the service at Grace Church last week.  Pastor Rick interviewed me and let me share my testimony in the service and to close, I got to do “content”.  It was fun for me and honestly worshipful even though it was not your fun of the mill thing in Powell, Ohio. I am so blessed to be a church where I am not only invested in and loved but they even let me pretend I am ghetto from time to time

You can check out the sermon in full here (July 6^th Got Stress) or download it at this link.

It is also still on my markartripmusic myspace.

FALL RE-UP…thoughts for vacation

I don’t post as much as I used to, so I would say I am going on vacation but you probably won’t even notice I am gone.

Anyway, we are leaving Sunday after church for a one-week vacation.  We will be traveling to Tennessee with the Godshall’s and staying at the vacation home of a family from our church. I am very grateful for them gifting us this week.

*Side note-we stuck around because I am leading worship as well as singing/rapping a song of mine called “content” in the Sunday morning services.

Here are the things I will be working on and thinking about as we are away…they are basically how I will accomplish and sharpen our values since those are my continual job description.

1. Staffing-Many adult volunteers will be back in the HSM family from last year but roles are changing so I am thinking and praying about who goes where.  I will ask/confirm those when I get back.
2. Worship-Our Wednesday night gathering is our time of worship.  Dustin and I will be planning the teaching and series’ for the year.  For the first time we are using XP3.  I am also looking at how we do music and bands and rotation and all that jazz. This year I want to use the big idea concept so big that no one can leave without knowing what they heard.
3. Growth-Our grace groups are going to get more emphasis than ever as the avenue that discipleship happens in.  I have to know that after we know the adults and the sites that they have tracks to run on to accomplish biblical truth, prayer, caring relationships, and accountability.
4. Serving-I need to know that I am motivating and empowering high school students to serve.  This starts with a week to week foundation in our church, but expands to local and global.
5. Outreach-I am really proud of HSM and the level of outreach that has happened in the last years.  What does it looks like to build upon that.  How can we still make a first time guest welcome in a larger group?  How do we teach so that students are equipped even more for conversational outreach?

That is what is on my mind and I would appreciate your prayers as I take a “week off” and think about this stuff. I am gonna pray through it with Kristin and not approach it until I am back in town.

HUSBAND LESSONS

I try to prioritize my life roles in order of importance.  The list goes like this; Follower of Christ, husband, father, family member, friend, pastor.  As you can tell by where it landed that I think being a good husband is my most important role behind following Christ.  It doesn’t mean I am always perfect at it but I do try to structure my life so that I can help myself be a good husband.

Today my friend Ron Moore who works with facilities at our church had a tough day, he had to say goodbye to his wife.  She passed away last Thursday from a long bout with cancer just two weeks after she was told she had 4-6 months to live.  Through this whole process it has been incredible to watch Ron love his wife.  He never once seemed tired or defeated.  He never seemed to doubt God’s plan.  He always praised his wife and kept pursuing her and believing in her.  I want to be like that.  It has been neat to see and I have been taking notes. Thanks Ron.

LIFE UPDATE

Life is just too busy to do anything but another life update with bullets…

• Sally Field is in the Tonight Show right now.  I met her in an airport in 2001 and she wouldn’t take a picture with me, even after I helped he find her daughter-in-law’s stroller and get it off the baggage belt.  I took a vow that day to not like herJ she seems so sweet on TV, but don’t let her fool you.
• We had the longest Elder’s meeting in my three years tonight…it was also the most encouraging, vision-filled one too.  I have always loved my church, but I LOVE my church right now.
• Soccer season is in full swing.  Kids camp this week
• We are house sitting for the Coville’s and their pool this week…life is good!
• I am so excited about our group at Urban Hope this week.  I just spent some time praying for them and I can’t wait to hear what God does in them this week.
• I couldn’t share this with the world until now. Here is a pic of the shirts we got for the Urban Hope team and our Operation Barnabas students.  Obviously inspired by Rob and Big, they are a limited run that I hope creates some buzz.