Mission-cast Episode 26

Mission-cast...Podcast #26 for Elevate...Here we go...Jason Curlee, Juno Garcia, Shelly Stokes, Tommy Montoya and Rachel Cullers talk about the night.

This weeks message on the Podcast concludes our series called HEROES- "ordinary people...extraordinary power" and the message is by Jason Curlee called "A Powerful Mission" in which our big idea is how our Powerful Mission is to Live for Christ...Change the World.

-->> Download the MP3 directly here <<--

-->> Listen online here <<--

Silence Please

Just a couple of thoughts and I am going silent until May 1st.

* Nothing more important than family. Friends may come and go but family is forever.

* Our ministry is absolutely rockin'. And it's all because of a great team and great teens who are bringing their friends.

* Heroes rocked. I'm hooked. Not that I already wasn't.

* My wife is the most awesome and supportive person in the whole world. Love her beyond description.

* Great email conversation with Marko this weekend. We may not see eye to eye on some things but I have really appreciated his ability to work through issues and his continual challenge of me to keep a balanced perspective. Through this conversation it has me reflecting on the direction I will be blogging in the future. This post also had me reflecting as well on what my purpose in blogging should be.

I don't know if when I come back on May 1st it will be a vengeance. I hope I will return different. After blogging now for over a year it is now time to focus in on what and who I am in the blogosphere. My hope is that through this blog I can be 1) an inspiration, 2) informative, and 3) can help and serve others in a greater way.

Will that be the same when I return. That will only be answered at a future date. Until then........

We Must Reach Them

So Perry's post, "I AM PO'd" still has me fired up. My wife dug into our archives to locate a video clip and I edited a short video together.



For those that don't know, Marilyn Manson attended a youth ministry as a teen. Below is the audio/video clip from the youth pastor, Tracy Paino describing.

We can make a difference. The church can make a difference. We have just got to be fired up and realize that now is the time to do something. Now is the time to make an impact.

The Misfortunes of the Media

Lot of heat is being directed at the media over the VA Tech tragedy.

Should NBC have shown it should they have not? Apparently and this should be to no ones surprise, they are only thinking about ratings. Duh... Let's release first and look like the major news player.

Come on NBC...how freakin' lame are you.

I know, I know...I can hear you. Someone was going to release it eventually anyway so let's be the first. Does anyone agree that these networks are now probably as much a part of the cause as anything?

They are now, for the sake of numbers and ratings, glorifying mass killers, showing every idiot out there that they can do the same and be immortalized as well.

I understand that it is their role to report the news. But come on.

Hey don't think any of the other networks are off the hook on this.

I watched one local news program where they interviewed students at a college about the incident and how safe they felt. Only to remark at the end of the segment how that college had no plans to make the college more secure.

HELLO...are you just flat out stupid??? Why not go ahead and mail a gun to every idiot mass killer in the country? You might as well had.

That same local news program today blasted NBC for airing the footage of the killer only to proceed to play it themselves while talking about it.

So apparently CBS isn't as smart as NBC.

Kudos to Perry

I have to say that I think Marko and YS's response to the Virginia Tech Tragedy was only just good. It was kind of the right thing to say. Adequate...very P.C. P.C. was probably not the correct term I was looking for there. This should be a week where it should challenge the church to 1) change their approaches and 2) really try to reach this next generation.

It was uninspiring to me. Don't know about anyone else.

But I really have to admit that Perry Noble's response was awesome. It is the best response. Hands down.

That is how you lay it down. You go Perry.

Identity-cast Episode 25

Identity-cast...Podcast #25 for Elevate...Here we go...Our host Juno Garcia couldn't make it for the talk show so Jason Curlee, Shelly Stokes, Robbie Curlee and Shelby talk about the night. We unvail a contest that will continue until episode 30. It had to happen but we had to record our talk show twice.

This weeks message on the Podcast continues our series called HEROES- "ordinary people...extraordinary power" and the message is by Jason Curlee called "New Identity" in which our big idea is to rewire our new identity for our powerful mission.

Our nugget time features a surprise call in from Juno for a Junoism.

-->> Download the MP3 directly here <<--

-->> Listen online here <<--

A Peek Into My Weak

Recap of the last week. As an insight into my world, besides my normal work day. These were just in the evenings.

Starting last Tuesday...

Tuesday - Elevate Worship Team Practice
Wednesday - Elevate Meeting
Thursday - Off
Friday - Young Adult Worship Team Practice
Saturday - Elevation Rally
Sunday - Young Adults "The Gathering"
Monday - Off
Tuesday - Teen Challenge Chapel
Wednesday - Elevate Meeting

That's right...two nights off in nine days.

BTW...I took our Elevate Worship Traveling Team to the Teen Challenge Chapel. It was awesome. We did the chapel (message and worship). Our team knocked it out of the park. There were over 70 in the chapel and they responded awesomely to the worship and the message.

Over 20 came up for salvation or recommitment.

It was slammin'.

Holy Moley

Check out my new Batman and Robin graphic.

Heroes Message - The Ultimate Hero

Here is the outline of our first message in our Heroes Series.

Message Title – “The Ultimate Hero”
Big Idea – Be powered up to do it through Christ.
Scripture – Philippians 2:5-8
Application – Think like Christ
Message Synopsis – Jesus is our ultimate example of a hero. Even though He was God He came as a man and did extraordinary feats through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:8 He said, “You”. This was telling us that it is now our time to go and be
Heroes. We can be powered up to do it through Christ as we begin to “Think like Him” as Philippians 2:5-8 says.


Me - Introduction


A couple of months ago the President was giving a speech to congress and as he was doing it he started highlighting some people he had purposely invited there for the speech.

One of them was a young man from New York who had performed an incredible act of heroism.

Wesley Autrey (dubbed by the media as the "Subway Superman" and "The Hero of Harlem," and by himself as the "Subway Hero") is a New York construction worker and Navy veteran who achieved international recognition after he saved Cameron Hollopeter, a 19-year-old film student who had suffered a seizure and fallen onto the tracks, from being struck by a New York City subway train.

On January 2, 2007, Autrey was waiting for a train at the 137th Street and Broadway station in Manhattan with his two young daughters. At around 12:45 PM, he and two women noticed a young man, Cameron Hollopeter, having a seizure. Autrey borrowed a pen from someone and used it to keep Hollopeter's jaws open. Following the seizure, Hollopeter stumbled from the platform, falling onto the tracks.

As Hollopeter lay on the tracks, Autrey saw the lights of an incoming train. As one of the women held Autrey's daughters back away from the edge of the platform, Autrey dove onto the tracks. He thought he would be able to take Hollopeter off the tracks, but he realized there was not enough time to drag Hollopeter away. Instead, he protected Hollopeter by throwing himself over Hollopeter's body in a drainage trench between the tracks, where he held him down. The operator of the train applied the brakes, but two cars still passed over them, close enough to leave grease on his cap.

Autrey told The New York Times “I don’t feel like I did something spectacular; I just saw someone who needed help. I did what I felt was right.”

He was an everyday ordinary guy.

Almost a picture of today’s ultimate hero.

Which is why we have titled the message tonight “The Ultimate Hero”

I think that is why I love the show HEROES so much.

The show tells the story of several people who "thought they were like everyone else... until they woke with incredible abilities"

They were Ordinary People with Extraordinary Power.


This show resonates with me because I like heroes. I have read comic books and watched cartoons all my life. My favorite movies are shows that have been made from the comics.

I think we all like heroes.

I think Aunt May puts it best for us in Spiderman.

Video Clip – Spiderman 2 – 1:22:39 to 1:25:00


Everyone loves a hero…we all have our favorites.

My favorite hero of all time is “Iceman” once part of the X-Men…and of course I have always like Superman and Spiderman.


Over the past two weeks we have been asking teens some questions for a new segment called Elevate’s Teen on the Street. Let’s see what they had to say.

Video Clip – Teen On The Street


You - Connection


How many of you have a favorite hero?

Why do you like them so much?

Is it because the inspire you to more, is it their courage, the strength they possess.

What is it about heroes that inspire us so much?


The real question is:

Do you realize heroes come in ordinary packages?

Real life heroes are just ordinary people. Everyday average people just like you and I.

Except they act.

Definition of a hero:

1. a man or woman distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
2. someone who fights for a cause

They are ordinary people with an extraordinary power that sets them apart.

For us to be heroes we have to rely on something else outside ourselves to give us this extra strength.

Which brings us to our big Idea tonight.

Big Idea
Be Powered Up To Do It Through Christ


God – Biblical Foundation


Open up your bibles tonight to Acts 1:8 and lets look at a scripture we are going to be using this whole series.

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (NIV)

Over the this whole series this month we are going to be breaking this down and talking about HEROES…Next Week in fact we will be talking about our EXTRAORDINARY POWER…then our NEW IDENTITY…and finally our POWERFUL MISSION.

Let’s back this scripture up a minute and let’s see what what Jesus.

Jesus had already died. He already had risen from the dead.

And now he comes back to talk with the disciples to give them one last instruction.

Acts 1:4-8 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

And then he makes this statement which is our series verse.

8 But you

I like to think of Jesus having a conversation that goes a little like this:

Hey guys…you know we were together for a couple of years and you saw everything that I did. You also heard all that I said. And now you are going to have to power to go out and do it. I am going to infuse you with a power to go and be a hero.

Here is the thing you have to understand about Jesus.

When he came…he came as a man…He didn’t come as God.

He came as an ordinary person just like you and I.

Everything He did He did as an ordinary person…but an ordinary person with an Extraordinary Power.

And that is why He said “YOU”

Jesus’ first miracles happened after He was baptized.

Mark 1:9 -10 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. (NIV)

Later in that chapter we see Jesus performing miracles through this power.

In all of the gospels we see that Jesus’ miracles happened after He was infused with the power of the Holy Spirit.

And now he says “YOU”

John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Think about that…Jesus said “YOU” will do greater things…

Here was his mission:

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (NIV)

His life was a lot like the words of this song…WATCH THIS.

DVD CLIP – HOLD FAST


I think that everything we need has been given to us…all God is waiting for is someone to go after it.

Application

Here is how you do it:

Here is the application for this message.

You need to:

Think Like Christ


Phillipians 2:5 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. (The Message)

It is your time to be a Hero…it is your time to think about what “you” can do for God.

You need to think like Jesus. You need to look out and realize there are many teens in your generation that are hurting and need someone to help them.

Someone to say “HOLD FAST” Help is on the way.

We - Vision

Imagine what would happen if we all grasped this.

If we grasp the power we have at our disposal.

What would this world be like if a group of teens would rise up and be the people God needs them to be.


We need to be powered up to do it through Christ.

Funky Way To Get There

I tried this today.

1. go to www.google.com
2. click on “maps”
3. click on “get directions”
4. type “New York” in the first box (the “from” box)
5. type “London” in the second box (the “to” box)
6. scroll down to step #23

Thanks Marko

Too Busy For Eternity

Eternity is too forever to not have your teen there.

I thought I would write some thoughts about teens and parents which are below about a video I watched about a world class violinist that plays for 45 minutes in a subway where 1100 people just walk right by. I probably would have been one of them. This violinist plays a $3.5 million dollar Stativarious.

I read about this first at Len Evans Blog. Look for "Ignored Beauty".

Then I read Tony Morgan's take.

I watched the video. Here it is:



The original article with great video is called "Pearls Before Breakfast"

So here are my thoughts:

* How many students and parents are so busy in life that they walk right by youth pastors all over our nation who are pouring out their hearts in an effort to reach the teens of our country?
* How many teens sit in youth meetings so absorbed in their problems or temporary desires not to realize the heart that is being poured out for them?
* How many teens and parents miss the opportunity of life changing messages that have been labored and prayed over?
* How many hours by volunteers who labor for free to give teens a better life are missed on a weekly basis?
* How many tears are poured out for teens that go unnoticed by parents and teens who are just too busy?
* How many youth pastors work enormous hours on a weekend planning an event to inspire teens only to have a handful of those teens show up?
* How many teens and parents practically slap their youth pastors in their face with the level of commitment they show to someone working so hard to partner with them for their child's eternity?

Listen to me: If you are a parent reading this, you need to have your teen in your churches youth ministry. You need to pray and support your youth pastor. They are more than a baby sitter. They are standing in the gap for your teen and thousands and millions across this country.

Is being busy worth it? Is that latest tv show worth it? Is your child's eternity worth it?

If your child was a diabetic would you be just as lazy with their medicine as you are with their eternity?

When are parents going to rise up and realize that eternity is going to be forever and your child's destiny is more precious.

Does "American Idol" get your child any closer to eternity? Is "Lost" going to help them find their way into eternity? Is Clark from "Smallville" going to save them? (BTW...How ironic is that name anyway...American Idol)

Quit walking by and get involved. Volunteer. Pray. Give Financial Support. Take care of you youth pastor. And by all means MAKE...yeah that's right, I said...MAKE YOUR TEEN GO.

Don't accept some wimpy, "I don't feel like it."

Don't let them talk you into going "next week".

Eternity is NOW!!!

Great People.

In the last chapter of Mavericks at Work: Why the Most Original Minds in Business Win it asks the question, "Why should great people join your organization?"

This is a great question any department head or even pastor could ask.

Why should great people join your department?

William Taylor & Polly LaBarre go on to answer that question as follows:

"The best leaders understand that the best rank-and-file performers aren't motivated primarily by money. Great people want to work on exciting projects. Great people want to feel like impact players inside their organizations. Great people want to be surrounded with and challenged by other great people. Put simply, great people want to feel like they're part of something greater than themselves."

Rally Music Set

One Word...

BA-BLAM

Or is that two...maybe one and a half.

What I'm talking about was our sound run through for our Elevation Rally tomorrow.

Here is the skinny:

1 Acoustic Guitar, 3 Electric Guitars, 1 Bass, 1 Drummer, 3 Singers.

Almost felt like United Live with all those guitars tonight.

It was a very full, thick sound. One problem though....no sound tech. You should have seen me scrambling back and forth from stage to booth to stage to booth trying to sing and fix the sound.

The band sounded so awesome.

It sounded so good with a full team.

Here is the rundown on songs:

1. Living For You - Gateway Worship
2. What The World Will Never Take - United
3. Evermore - United
4. From The Inside Out - United
5. You're My Everything - Pocket Full of Rocks
6. Everything - Lifehouse
7. Shout Unto God - United

BTW - We like United. Can you tell???

Power-cast Episode 24

Power-cast...Podcast #24 for Elevate...Here we go...Our host Juno Garcia along with Jason Curlee, Shelly Stokes and Rachel Cullers talk very little about the night. The Junoisms continue. And we are joined by Robbie Curlee making a first time appearence on the podcast.

This weeks message on the Podcast continues our series called HEROES- "ordinary people...extraordinary power" and the message is by Jason Curlee called "Extraordinary Power" in which our big idea is the Holy Spirit is our Source of Extraordinary Power.

Our nugget time features a great message by Tommy Montoya.


-->> Download the MP3 directly here <<--

-->> Listen online here <<--


ONE MORE TO TWENTY-FIVE!

Lost Thought

Very Random Quickie Thought...

Lost last night...bad to the bone...I'm hooked til the end of the season.

Our Secret For Success

I know it's been a while since I have given everyone an update on our Elevate meetings. So here it goes.

Last year this month we averaged 24 in our Elevate meetings.

Our official day of starting at Church of Hope was April 1st in '06.

One year later...and tonight we had officially 77 in our meeting. You read it right...seventy-seven...

That is tripling our size in one year. I'll tell you the secret of our success, but you can't tell anyone.

Here it goes.

Are you ready?

SHHHH!!! Are you listening???

It's not because of me. That's right. I didn't have anything to do with it. I take no credit.

Our teens and team leaders have done it all. I give them all the credit. 100%.

Without them there would be no ELEVATE.

They bring their friends, they lead, they help, they serve. IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THEM.

That's the secret. Great team...great teens...great ELEVATE.

Pumped Up

Pumped up about tonight. Pumped up about our Heroes series.

This series is turning out to be a great series on the Power of the Holy Spirit.

One of the most unique ways I have presented it. I'm always amazed how God flows through me in creating these series.

I was talking to a local pastor of youth ministries about my process. As I was doing it...I was realizing just how it is all God and not me.

Vintage Crowder

So I'm sitting in the car catching up on all the Ragamuffinsoul-casts by Carlos Whittaker. And on episode #3 he starts talking about David Crowder's new cd A Collision. As he does he starts talking about a little known cd put out by University Baptist Church that had this great lead vocalist and acoustic guitar player named...you guessed it...David Crowder.

I had it. Bought it back in '98 or '99. Before Crowder was "Crowder". Had to put it in and give it a listen. And I didn't realize it until today.

Yo Los...you ain't got to burn a copy for me... ;)

Peeps Promo

I guess this one was inspired by easter.



With a little inspiration for Gina's Site.

New United CD

Can't even begin to tell you how jacked about this cd being released tomorrow (4-10-07) (shipping 4-22-07 in the states) Still can't believe Los had to rub it in our face.

Hands down...UNITED is the best praise and worship out today. I know there are some good ones out there. But I'm talking about the best.

And another thing...I will be seeing them again this year at Lakewood. Can't wait for July, babeeee...

Some SL Pics

Here are some pictures of my buddy Tyler and I sporting some new hairdo's...Who says your to old to stay young!!!!

I'm sitting on the right in the green shirt. Tyler is sitting on the left with the black shirt. Other of our buds Casey is right behind me in the blue shirt.

Still drinking a monster of course.

Technology and Ministry

I have been watching my blog lately and noticing that it has turned into sort of a techie blog. Now I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing.

I do spend a lot of time doing techie kind of stuff. Graphics, videos, podcasts, websites...etc...

To often I think that many churches are behind in technology. Part of that may be a fear and part might be a lack of technical skills.

Here in our ministry our philosophy is to take advantage of every medium available. And we are going to use it to our advantage.

That is why we have a ministry myspace for our youth and young adult ministry. That is why I create videos and post them on youtube. That is why we do a podcast every week. It's not cause we have all this extra time on our hands. There is a segment of society that spends time in these genre's and will reach their friends through them.

And we are going to take advantage and utilize them to spread the gospel.

MDM Develop Your Team Part 1

New Making Difference Makers Video Series Starting

Developing Your Team Part 1



Big Idea - Development is Intentional

Podcast Video

This video is a 1 minute quickie.

Unleash Conference Video

Talk about slammin'...Just found the streaming video for the Unleash Pastor's Conference at Newspring.

Here is the link...be prepared to get fired up.

Thanks Tony.

Make sure you explore because they have the pdf's of the breakout sessions as well.

Powerpoints and The Word

Tim at Life in Student Ministry left this post. Here is an excerpt:

Finally! Now there’s scientific research to confirm what I’ve always felt: PowerPoints that present the same text that’s being spoken is actually detrimental to its retention. I’ve always disliked “death-by-bulletpoints” that put into written form exactly the same thing that the speaker is saying. I almost feel like the speaker is insulting my intelligence: “I know, teacher, I heard what you said,” or “Yes, I may be deaf, but it’s a good thing I can read.”

Bert made a similar post at Create Your Communications Experience. Here is an excerpt from his:

"Australian researchers may have pronounced the death of the PowerPoint presentation."

I don't think so, but there is a very interesting article in the Sydney Morning Herald today that would help about 90% of the in person PowerPoint presentations that are given in business.

Researchers at the University of NSW found that the brain cannot process written and spoken information well at the same time. (Thank you for the tip from Michael Huxley via Guy Kawasaki.) The principle finding among some of the other controversial conclusions is "It is more difficult to process information if it is coming at you in the written and spoken form at the same time."

Both of which read this.

These two left me thinking so I left Tim a comment on his site which is as follows. I leave you to think about it.

hmmm…very interesting Tim…seems this is going around a lot in the blogosphere as I just read it as well Bert Decker had a similar post.

Now here is my dilemma.

1) I have no problem with the research out-right as that is not my field of study.
2) I agree that powerpoint can be way overused. It should be used very simply. I very rarely use more than 10 slides total including my title graphics. I actually loved how you put in that you use them which was a very creative idea that has me thinking about how to implement it.

Here is where I will seperate and go to the extreme:

If the research is true and legit. As a pastor who is teaching the Word we very often as people to read along with us in the Word. This very research could apply there as well. No…Yes…Thoughts????

What are your thoughts????

Hitting the Monster

So I'm just chilling out tonight with a couple of my buddies in Second Life. That's Casey to my left. And the far right is Tyler.


All of the sudden Casey starts doing some weird stuff in front of us.



Oh yeah...he was making me a Monster energy drink...here is my buddy Tyler and me getting kicked up for a late night on the computer.



What could be better? Hitting a Monster in Church with a Buddy...

The Soon To Come Podcast

Sorry everyone if you have been waiting for the podcast. It should be up tonight...

Hero-cast Episode 23

Hero-cast...Podcast #23 for Elevate...Here we go...Our host Juno Garcia along with Jason Curlee, Shelly and Rachel talk about our interesting night. Great talk show especially the Junoites-unite portion. Juno launches a junoism for you.

This weeks message on the Podcast kicks of our series called HEROES- "ordinary people...extraordinary power" and the message is by Jason Curlee called "The Ultimate Hero" in which our big idea is powered up to do it through Christ.

TUNE IN AT THE END FOR A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY ON THE PODCAST.

-->> Download the MP3 directly here <<--

-->> Listen online here <<--

Seven Days Of Editing Makes One Weak

For the past 6 days I have been immersed in video editing. Thursday I shot video with my senior pastor. Friday and Saturday I edited and cut this video for Sunday Morning. Sunday afternoon till 1:30 in the morning I edited this video.

Tonight I have to edit two more videos. Of course one has already been done and thanks to some tricks I learned I am really only just popping it on a disk. Thanks Corey Mann awesome video.

The other though is a teen on the street video for the launch of our Heroes series.

The next meeting we have will premiere 3 videos.

Am I insane?

Building A Church Website

Websites are always evolving. In fact you church website should not be there tomorrow. What that means is it should always be evolving. Want people to come back often then it demands change.

Here are the main things you want to focus on the front home page.

Even though you need drop down menus with these items on it, you want to make it easy entry to a new guest that is checking you out. Some of these items you may have and others you will have over time. You really need to think from an outside in point of view.

1) I’m New – This would redirect to a page that would give a new person the basics of what they need to see to get an idea of who you are as a church with the top hot points…time and directions, children’s area’s, etc…
2) Times and Directions
3) Link to current Message Series with graphic
4) Link to your Church Story
5) Podcast Link

Cory Miller at churchcommunicationspro.com has a great series called Building Rockin’ Cool Church Websites.
Go check out what he has to say.

I Am One

Great quote by Edward Everett Hale I read today.

I am only one
But still I am one
I can not do everything
But still I can do something
And because I can not do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

My wife had some similar thoughts with her post last week called, "What Really Matters?"

East of the Jordan

Mark Batterson had a fantastic post today called, "Break Camp", that is so relevant to where church is in the 21st century. In fact, most probably are still in the 20th century.

Here is an excerpt:

Most of us settle east of the Jordan. We never enter the Promise Land. And I think there are lessons to be learned from the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites. If you want to make it to the Promise Land you have to break camp. That is what God tells the Israelites in Numbers 9:15-23. Sometimes they would only camp overnight and the cloud would move. Other times they stayed put for weeks or months. But whenever the cloud moved the Israelites broke camp. By my count, the Israelites had to break camp forty-one times to reach the Promise Land. The travel itinerary is recorded in Numbers 33.

A few observations.

Most of us want to get to the Promise Land in one step or two stops! It doesn't work that way! It took forty-one moves for the Israelites to get there.

This is one of his best posts as of late.

How often do we settle East of the Jordan? How often do we want it tomorrow?

What is God building in us now that He needs down the road? Every step with God is calculated to prepare us for our future.

Great stuff Mark. Make sure you go check out the rest of his post.

99 Balloons

This video almost...and I say almost...brought a tear to my eyes...and that's a hard thing to do.

99 Balloons

Be forewarned...this one could wreck you emotionally.

Drinking On The Lifechurch.tv Stage

So here I am just chilling out on the lifechurch.tv stage in Second Life...oops...hope they don't have some crazy rule about drinking cokes on the stage.