Amber and Jess need your help to score some VIP treatment at winter Jam 2011.  Check out the video, watch it about 10000 times and let ‘em know what you think of it.

Today began with the reminder of my role as dad when Eden popped out of a dead sleep, and waddled over to where I was still dead asleep to inform me that she was awake and she needed to go to the potty RIGHT NOW!

Following that the morning continued as Katie and I waited till 9:30 when we could call in for the big news of weather or not we had been approved to become fully ordained members of the United Methodist Church.  During the excruciatingly slow time we got Eden ready to go with my mom for the day, got ourselves ready for the day, cleaned the house, checked e-mail, Played some Mario on Wii (after Eden’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse fix of course), and finalized some plans for our trip to Disney.

Eventually we were able to call and find out we were both approved and then the day really started.

I spent a chunk of the day at the hospital visiting various members of the congregation.  We had one surgery patient, 2 members in ICU another in a regular room.  While there i connected up with a couple of members who were working or volunteering at the hospital.

After my visitation was over I decided to grab a chi latte and talk to the anesthesiologist who was part of the surgical team for the member I visited.  I got the good news update on how he was doing.  While waiting for the latte to reach the right temperature, I had a great talk with the barista about his tattoos.  And it turned into a great time where we talked about our faith and how his tattoos are a way to talk about his story with others and help them out of hard times in life.  It was really neat.

I went home for lunch with Katie.  Made some phone calls to update others as to the status of the folks in the hospital.  I did some contact work on Facebook.  Then went back to the office.

Back at my desk I had conversation with our family ministries director, checked in about final bulletin points for the weekend.  Gave the OK for a special love offering in light of the earthquake in Haiti.

I had a great talk with a man who wants to be baptized.

And after this post I am going to write a youth message, start on a sermon and then get ready for young adult small group.

I suspect the night will end with family time and snuggling on the couch.

As I think about where God has taken me in the past 7 years that have lead up to the green light on ordination I am amazed.  I would have never thought I would have a day like today.  And if I would have thought of it I would have cringed at that thought.  But, now all I can think is what a privilege it is to be on this adventure knowing tomorrow will bring another round of excitement.

I Found this post the other day on Mike Slaughter’s blog.  I really thought that it was awesome.  Kind of thought provoking.  I guess that is because in the past two weeks we have has 4 funerals.  What are some of the ways you remember or find out about people after they have departed from this world? Now, go pull out those Bibles and mark ‘em up

Yesterday
I went to the Memorial celebration for Karen Smith’s stepfather, John
Young. The pastor used John’s Bible for the readings. He noted how worn
it was and read from passages that John had marked. He pointed out
notes that had been written in the margins. “I always ask to see a
person’s Bible before I preach their funeral,” the pastor stated. “It
reveals everything about their life.”
Check out his blog for more mikeslaughter.com: blog

I finally took the plunge and updated the wordpress software for the blog. everything seems to be in order here so next is the youth site and then the church’s blog… :-0

On Sunday I met Katie and Eden for lunch at McDonald’s for a very fancy meal (oh yeah big spenders). We sat down, ate and watched people play with the giant slide puzzle (you can see a guy with camo on playing with it in the pic).

We had a delightful meal and then Katie went to a meeting and Eden and I finished our food, but not before something struck me.  Eden was eating only her bun with Ketchup on it. This is
not something that is very strange I guess but it got me thinking. Katie loves Ketchup sandwiches. I was mesmerized but the fact that Eden was chomping down on a Ketchup soaked piece of bread.

I had just read a passage from Deutoeronmy 6 the day before where the people of Israel are being told how to pass on their faith to the next generation. Here is what it says:

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. 7 Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, 9 and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates…

20 When your children ask you in time to come, “What is the meaning of the decrees and the statutes and the ordinances that the LORD our God has commanded you?” 21 then you shall say to your children, “We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
Deut 6

Wow..the people had just gotten the 10 commandments and now they are told about how to keep them in their hearts. Even write them on their foreheads…maybe this is a biblical argument for tattoos.
Then it goes on to say that when your kids ask you about the things you do tell them. Tell the your whole story of overcoming oppression, liberation, the love of God how to eat ketchup sandwiches…
Well not the last one, but it isn’t far off. We teach our children so many things and the imitate and embrace what we teach even if they don’t seem like they are listening or watching they are. But how often do we hesitate to teach them the Whys and the Whats of our faith. This is the most precious gift that we can pass along and we often bulk at the opportunity.
Next time you eat your ketchup sandwich (or whatever special thing you do) ask how is that going to be passed on, and are you doing that with your faith as well?

I was turned on to the Curious George “Soundtrack” by a woman from church because she said that “It is music that you and your daughter can listen to while still keeping your sanity.” Being as here favorite CD makes me want to fling it off of a bridge I thought I would give it a shot.

Jack Johnson’s great flow and style soothes even the most savage of teething babies, and the dads. I think that this is a blessing to all who have little ones.

I came across this podcast from willow creek and thought that it was an okay listen.  It takes a chapter of the bible a week.  Thats right a week.  It becomes a little slow but it passes the time and brings about some good thoughtful reflection.

There is something about an angelic choir singing Amazing Grace that gets you into the Easter spirit. The perfect pitch telling of theology of love and forgiveness. The way the melody capitulates with harmony in a forte of elegance and clean vocals…or something like that. So crisp and clean is the song of reconciliation and atonement that it seems almost foolish to question the simplicity of the gospel. Then…there is Flatfoot 56′s version of the traditional hymn. They are a Celtic Punk group complete with bagpipes and screaming vocals. When I listened to this song I thought of Irish pub brawls and the reason why this song was written. Amazing Grace is not a song for 100 member choirs in great Gothic cathedrals, but rather has lyrics for that come to settle down at home with the guys and lasses who raise a pint just to be with their brotheren and lean against a well worn and bar where a second round is waiting to be slid your way.

I think this colorful band is way cool fun…

I love the way that Five Iron Frenzy (FIF) has so much fun with their music. They have a rocking ska sound that energizes even the dreariest of days. Their song Superpowers exemplifies everything wonderful about the group. The lyrics focus on life on the road and how they are not perfect and life isn’t glamorous. But we all have gifts to use and they can bring joy and peace to others.

I found some great new music not to long ago via itunes. I really like the obscure Christian stuff that is driving hard rock or just has a great new feel. This past week I have been listening to a group called Spoken. They have a really great sound (a little bit like Rage Against the Machine in the secular world). This song begins with, “Let your spirit fall on me.” And is about being filled with the spirit. Then climaxes with a really rocking chorus proclaiming that, “I want to dance like David.” I could just about picture a modern day David dancing around the Ark to this song. It is great!!!