Pix from the Cruise

Our first look at the Disney Wonder


Preparing for the lifeboat drill


The "Sail Away Party"








On our verandah...





Nassau, Bahamas














Mickey and Minnie!!




Alex and Susannah brought some costumes to dress up for the "Pirates IN the Caribbean" party (or as Susie says "Carabeena")


Susannah sleeping on the deck through mega music and fireworks at the Pirates In the Carabeena party.


Some tired kiddos


On Castaway Cay - Disney's Private Island












These little yellow oompa loompas come out every chance they get to clean or work on the ship.


One of those many Disney "wows" when the waiter took time to squirt Susie's ketchup into the shape of Mickey.


Disney is truly amazing. I've felt this at the parks before, but on a cruise you are totally in their care. Their operations and customer service are virtually flawless. Food was great. Kids activities were excellent. Really great time... highly recommend!!

Back from our Disney Cruise

The last three days I've been shooting video for a CiCi's Pizza company celebration on the Disney Wonder. It was amazing. Yesterday riding bikes on Disney's private island in the Bahamas... today back to overcast 47 degree Texas. Debbie or I will have pictures up soon.

Creepy

Yesterday had the stupidest news stories, but here is the creepiest news story! I don't like snakes.

Unbelievable!

Two of the stupidist things I've heard in a while...

1) What in the world was Joe Biden thinking? If anyone doubts that racism in this country is alive and well, there it is. We must do something proactive about this.

2) How could the Comedy Network be so irresponsible as to put blinking packages on bridges, street corners, and subways? Did they think all this free media coverage outweighed their moral obligation to society? Or, are they somehow ignorant enough not to foresee the Boston chaos of today?

Developing my daughter

Emmaleigh and I had a great little dad/daughter time this morning. Every so often I like to make sure and spend some one-on-one time with each of my three kids. I couldn't decide where to take her so we just ended up at Starbucks for coffee, chocolate milk, and my favorite, Classic Coffee Cake.

On the way out the door I grabbed my binder full of notes from some life/professional coaching I received last year. These lessons have been priceless for me and I want to pass them along to others including my kids.

So... over coffee I shared with Em about "having an overcoming style" and "having consistent desires". I explained these concepts in a way a kid can understand with examples and also fun drawings. I wasn't sure how she'd respond to this semi-formal teaching from me, but she loved it. Later in the day we also got to relate one of these concepts to the scripture verse the kids are on today. As always happens, I sure later this week we'll have a chance to apply these concepts to real life together.

I love developing people!

Setting Priorities

A friend reminded me of a little tool to organize priority of tasks...



You just write down things in the correct boxes and the start doing the things in the HIGH-HIGH box first.

I've been using this tool this past week and it's been great!

The question which arises is the order in which you tackle the boxes. Like I said above, of course HIGH-HIGH is first. But what is next? I prefer to put HIGH_IMPORTANCE/LOW_URGENCY next. I don't want the tyranny of the urgent (but unimportant) to crowd out things like reading, thinking, family time, etc.

Have you ever used this particular tool before? Has it been helpful? And what is that big ugly smudge on the graphic from my scanner? Sorry...

Breakthrough

As a Monday morning plane begins to rise
the city skyline beautifully silhouettes against a hazy pink horizon on an otherwise
drab, overcast morning

One minute under the gray canopy
the next instant all white with a spot of light increasingly burning through
to unaccustomed eyes then breakthrough

An immense blue dome
A brilliant sun
Crystal clear vision
The gray of moments before
Long behind

Do you need a breakthrough?

My commissioning for ministry

I was blessed to be commissioned for ministry by Legacy Church last Sunday. story...

Peach Black

Dad: "Hey Susie did you sleep well last night?"

Susie: "Yes, but it was kind of scary. You know how I don't like it to be peach black."

Manage yourself, not the other person

There's only one person you can really manage... you!

Do you ever find yourself frustrated by the actions or inactions of others? Maybe someone isn't leading you just like you need to be led. Maybe someone does things that drive you crazy. Maybe someone has different work habits -- things like planning, organization, scheduling, priorities -- than you do. Often times in these cases we gripe and complain about that other person -- we try to "manage" that person into what we want them to be -- instead of managing our own lives.

If you don't like how someone is leading you, don't follow!

How can someone else actually drive you crazy??? Take charge!

If someone's work habits don't line up with yours, either make a conscious decision to be flexible for a season for certain reasons or say 'no' to the work.

Status quo is the enemy of truly managing ourselves and our situation. It's much easier to go with the normal flow (and gripe about it) than it is to make courageous decisions and manage our lives to a better place.

Don't let OTHERS keep YOU from doing what YOU are supposed to do.

Anxiety comes when we work on things that are not our business to work on (managing others)
AND
Anxiety comes when we neglect things we are supposed to work on (managing ourselves)

The Apprentice

I don't care who says what about Donald Trump! I like The Apprentice.

I had been looking forward to the new season which started last Sunday and I loved it.

I like the new twists in the show this season:

1) The winning team's project manager remains project manager for the following week's task. (in past seasons the project manager for both team changed every week)
2) The winning team's project manager get to sit with Trump in the boardroom and helps (along with Trumps daughter) advise him regarding who on the losing team should be fired
3) And the biggest change...... The losing team has to live in a tent for the week following its loss while the winning team lives in a mansion. It'll be interesting to see what effect this "haves vs have nots" has on the outcome. Will the adverse conditions in the tent motivate the losers to become winners or will the tent-dwellers spiral downward?

I miss Carolyn and the gentleman (can't remember his name) who advised Trump last year and were his "eyes and ears". Trump's daughter is now advising Trump and doesn't seem to have the leadership credibility that those two seasoned advisors had last year.

Initial thoughts:
Heidi is great
Frank is obnoxious and won't admit any mistakes although he clearly makes them

No more victim mentality

Bad things happen... you can choose to be a victim or you can choose to move on stronger to the next thing.

Victims think people owe them. They can even think God owes them.

I have to confess that I've acted like a victim sometimes since August. I've felt like certain people owed me and like God owed me. I had a lot of disappointment in my last job and I'm somewhat scattered from my friends... BUT this doesn't obligate the God of the universe to give me a new job and life that's easy and comfy. God is amazingly huge and powerful. I need to BEG him to use me... not EXPECT him to help me and use me.

I've been blessed with so many things...
Good family of origin
Awesome wife and kids
Good friends
Good health
Education
Food to eat
Comfortable place to live
More stuff than most people in the world would ever imagine having

I don't need to live in despair. I could get a job. Deb could. We have 3.5 university degrees between us. We have so much. As we beg God to continue opening doors for us to work in our passion, we must remember we are asking for a privilege or gift and should not feel it an entitlement.

One night I took Deb's mom back to her home while Deb stayed behind to get the kids to bed. On the way back I had an amazing time. It was a beautiful starry night and within the span of 20 short minutes I realized again how big God is and how small I am. He who flung the stars into space is not obligated to me. So what if I gave a few years of my life in an endeavor that didn't end up well... big deal......... Jesus left heaven and bore my sin.

Great Questions

Kathy Sierra asked these great questions for getting to know people. A little more thought-provoking than some I've seen... My answers are in comments... what about your answers?

0) What's your name and website?

1) What's the most fun work you've ever done, and why? (two sentences max)

2) A. Name one thing you did in the past that you no longer do but wish you did? (one sentence max)

B. Name one thing you've always wanted to do but keep putting it off? (one sentence max)

3) A. What two things would you most like to learn or be better at, and why? (two sentences max)

B. If you could take a class/workshop/apprentice from anyone in the world living or dead, who would it be and what would you hope to learn? (two more sentences, max)

4) A. What three words might your best friends or family use to describe you?

B. Now list two more words you wish described you...

5) What are your top three passions? (can be current or past, work, hobbies, or causes-- three sentences max)

6) Write--and answer--one more question that YOU would ask someone (with answer in three sentences max)

[Bonus: What is one question you wish people would ask themselves?]

Baby Dolls

While our kids were with my parents the last few days, they went to the store so that each kid could buy a few little dollar toys. I was happy to see that Susie had picked out two dark skinned baby dolls. I'm so proud of our family that no one said anything silly to question her choice. It's a little thing, but it is encouraging to see our deep desire for our family to love all people lived out.

Randomness

I saw a church whose permanent sign had the church's name and the line underneath said...
"Fundamental-Independent-Old Fashioned-KJV"
must be an interesting place...


Found a website... If you want to find out where free wi-fi is available in your city, go to this site.


Like I said........ random today

Home repairs and risotto

We've been very blessed to have several days without the kids to focus on our last home repairs in prep for selling our house. Our old carpet and water heater are now in the dump and the last big building materials are now in the house. We also got the trickiest part of the house (high above the stairs) painted plus misc other things. Thanks Mom and Dad for keeping the kids for us!

On Friday night I tried making risotto. I had seen the recipe on food network... looked good. It's an italian rice dish. Arborio rice, chicken stock, butter, onion, cheese. it turned out pretty good along with some chicken fried in a little EVOO and garlic. (I love saying EVOO... that's what they say on the Food Network :) I might make risotto again but it wasn't THAT amazing... of course that may have been the cook's fault.

twitter is TOO much

I love online community, but www.twitter.com is TMI... not as in too personal, but TMI as in information overload... and boring!

But hey, I joined anyway. So... if I devote my life to posting mini-posts on twitter you can know what I'm doing at any moment of the day.

follow allentexas at http://twitter.com

The Tipping Point

I'm finally getting around to reading "The Tipping Point". I should have read it the moment it came out. Fascinating! Now, I just need to figure out how to best apply it.

If you want to make a serious impact in the world or if you just like learning more about how the human mind works, this book is for you.

New verse whatever

For anyone who is still following this... here is this obvious rest of the story. I stopped at about 2:6... will pick it up again hopefully when my life calms down. (or maybe that would HELP my life calm down) .... anyway.

Add the next verse, Ephesians 2:9.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:9 on your 3x5 card with verses 1-8 or add a second 3x5 card if needed.
2) Read through verse 2:9 several times and try to get where you can say it once today without looking.
3) Say verses 2:1-8 with our new verse, 2:9, a few times today trying not to look (but it's ok if you do look today). This helps reinforce our prior verses as we work on our new verse.

Add the next verse, Ephesians 2:10.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:10 on your 3x5 card with verses 1-9 or add a second 3x5 card if needed.
2) Read through verse 2:10 several times and try to get where you can say it once today without looking.
3) Say verses 2:1-9 with our new verse, 2:10, a few times today trying not to look (but it's ok if you do look today). This helps reinforce our prior verses as we work on our new verse.

What is it with my kids and mannequins?

My kids are always fascinated with mannequins.





If you notice Alex behind... he's probably more fascinated than he should be.

New Verse Thursday

For those memorizing Eph 2:1-10, this is New Verse Thursday.

Today we'll add the next verse, Ephesians 2:8.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:8 on your 3x5 card with verses 1-7 or add a second 3x5 card if needed.
2) Read through verse 2:8 several times and try to get where you can say it once today without looking.
3) Say verses 2:1-7 with our new verse, 2:8, a few times today trying not to look (but it's ok if you do look today). This helps reinforce our prior verses as we work on our new verse.


1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

Memorizing

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2.


TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:8 on "New Verse Thursday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:7 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1-6 together with 2:7 a few times today so that you keep reinforcing 2:1-6 while learning 2:7.

New Verse Monday... on Tuesday

For those memorizing Eph 2:1-10, this is New Verse Monday... on Tuesday.

Today we'll add the next verse, Ephesians 2:7.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:7 on your 3x5 card with verses 1-6 or add a second 3x5 card if needed.
2) Read through verse 2:7 several times and try to get where you can say it once today without looking.
3) Say verses 2:1-6 with our new verse, 2:7, a few times today trying not to look (but it's ok if you do look today). This helps reinforce our prior verses as we work on our new verse.


1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Together with all the saints

I've been familiar with this passage for along time and I at one time even wrote a song about it. But, I had missed the importance of one key phrase.

Eph 3:17-19
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

I guess I had thought "together with all the saints" meant "together as the global body of Christ, with all its races and ethnicities in congregations all over the world." That's fine for all over the world, but what about the people of different ethnicities just down the street?

I've come to believe that we can "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" better when we are actually sitting in a room "together with all the saints".

Wal-Mart is the place for moving boxes

Just got back from Wal-Mart. It's a pain to have to go there after midnight, but man you can get good boxes quickly as they are stocking the shelves. I just loaded up on the cereal aisle. General Mills boxes are kind of weak... they have a hole on the top and bottom. Kellogg's, on the other hand, now those are some boxes. Can you tell I'm getting excited about this move?

Turkey Tip

Wait! Before you cook the turkey tomorrow! If you always wish the white meat were more moist, consider cooking your turkey upside-down so that the dark meat juices run down through the breast meat. Yum!

OR...

Maybe you are more the tofu-based tofurky type... NOT ME!!

Heading for Atlanta

I'm heading for Atlanta tomorrow morning through Tuesday night to shoot a video. Should be fun, but we've got a really tight schedule for shoots all over the Atlanta metro area. I won't have a computer with me so I'll talk to you again on Wednesday.

Memorizing - Am I the only one behind?????

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2.

I'm still behind... Let's keep reviewing through verse six. I want to catch up and I intend too!!!

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:7 in a week on "New Verse Monday" since "New Verse Thursday" will be on Thanksgiving Day.
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:6 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1-5 together with 2:6 a few times today so that you keep reinforcing 2:1-5 while learning 2:6.

Wow... IM'ing with Los over the Pacific Ocean

I was just IM'ing with Los while he is over the Pacific Ocean on a Korean Air flight traveling to pick up his newly adopted son. Our internet connectness these days always amazes me.

Pray for Los and Heather.

Be praying for Los and family

Please be praying for my blog friend, Los, and his family. They leave tomorrow morning for Korea to pick up and bring home their adopted baby son.

It was cool... they had a prayer time at their home in California tonight. I joined in from Texas and IM'd in some prayers for them. I love the internet.

New Verse Thursday

For those memorizing Eph 2:1-10 with me, this is New Verse Thursday.

Today we'll add the next verse, Ephesians 2:6.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:6 on your 3x5 card with verses 1-5.
2) Read through verse 2:6 several times and try to get where you can say it once today without looking.
3) Say verses 2:1-5 with our new verse, 2:6, a few times today trying not to look (but it's ok if you do look today). This helps reinforce our prior verses as we work on our new verse.

Ephesians 2
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

Our Big Announcement!

For many years, God has been growing our hearts for worshiping and growing spiritually in the company of diverse people. We are very excited to begin to live out this desire of doing local church with all people. After several months of searching, praying, listening, and thinking, we have been "officially" invited and have accepted the invitation to join the staff of Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas, an intentionally multiethnic church in Little Rock.

First, Mosaic is about reconciling people to God through Jesus Christ. But, secondarily, they are about being a local church body that is ethnically and economically diverse. In heaven, people from every nation will be worshiping together. Through working with Mosaic, we'll be helping to make that a reality "on earth as it is in heaven".

One difference from this and most other church jobs is that we'll be raising our own support like a missionary would. This is the normal mode of operation for staff who are joining Mosaic. Mosaic is a relatively new church, but it has grown quickly. Because of this growth, there is a need for more staff and leadership. Since Mosaic reaches a diverse population of new Christ-followers and not-yet-Christ-followers, the financial resources just are not there to support the things that need to be done. Mosaic isn't satisfied to simply exist as a small multiethnic body. It has the vision to do excellent ministry with people from all walks of life and all economic backgrounds and to propel forward the movement of multiethnic churches. Because our family is seeking support from our connections outside of Mosaic Church, we'll be able to work as a part of this ministry without being a drain on the finances of that local body. The multiethnic church movement is in its infancy and, like any new mission, requires support from the outside to sustain and grow.

We'll be building a team of people to support us financially as we work under Mosaic's leadership. We are excited about this support-raising aspect. We see these supporters as partners and co-laborers with us in this ministry which we believe is dear to the heart of God.

In the next few days we'll be setting up a family website and blog. We'll be sharing our heart for multiethnic ministry, our progress toward moving to Little Rock, and about our impact once we get there. Our site will also be the hub for our support-raising and for pastoring/informing our support team.

We hope to find financial backing relatively quickly, so that our work at Mosaic can begin by Feb 1, 2007 in time to help prepare for the church's 5 year anniversary.

Please pray with us about these requests as we begin this journey...
1. That our house will sell quickly and for a great price
2. That our support team will be raised up swiftly
3. That God will order our steps...so that we are not overwhelmed with all that has to happen in the next few months
4. That God will continue to provide for our family financially as we wait for our move to Little Rock.

Thanks for reading and praying!
Allen

Alex's 6th Birthday

I usually take my kids out for a one-on-one birthday lunch with dad on their birthdays. Since we were traveling on Alex's birthday on Thursday, we went to birthday dinner instead.

First, we went to CiCi's.


Alex listening to something with his new spy gadget...


Who wouldn't like seeing the whites in the bottom of Alex's eyes? Move that teleprompter lower!! (ok... that's an inside joke)


Then we went to Northpoint Mall to let him spend his birthday money from his aunt at a cool toy store (well... after he climbed on the sculpture)

Half way there

See this great post on using graphics to convey your point.

Memorizing - getting back on track

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2.

I'm still behind on this after my crazy week last week. Let's keep reviewing through verse five and add a new verse on Thursday.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:6 on "New Verse Thursday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:5 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1-4 together with 2:5 a few times today so that you keep reinforcing 2:1-4 while learning 2:5.

Very tough week

Man... this has been quite a week. We are close to a new ministry opportunity coming together in Little Rock, Arkansas and I think the enemy is taking notice. We are being hit on several sides personally as we get closer to finalizing that decision. So many doubts, fears, pains, great stresses, questions all surfacing at once. Awful...

I'm just trying to keep my eyes on what we are called to do and trying to do one thing at a time to knock through the barriers to doing it.

Gwen and others... needless to say, I'm behind on memorizing. Let's take a breather over the weekend and we'll start another run at it on Monday.


Please pray for us.

New Verse Tuesday

Sorry I missed posting on what should have been New Verse Monday... shot video all day Monday.

Anyway...

For those memorizing Eph 2:1-10 with me, this is New Verse Tuesday.

Today we'll add the next verse, Ephesians 2:5.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:5 on your 3x5 card with verses 1-4.
2) Read through verse 2:5 several times and try to get where you can say it once today without looking.
3) Say verses 2:1-4 with our new verse, 2:5, a few times today trying not to look (but it's ok if you do look today). This helps reinforce our prior verses as we work on our new verse.

Ephesians 2
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Big week coming up!

Monday and Tuesday will be big video shoots for some freelance work I'm doing.
Wednesday will be a meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas to discern whether I should come on staff with a church there.
Thursday we'll be back to Texas for more video work.
Friday will be video work and Alex's 6th birthday party.

Please pray for us for efficiency, safe travel, clarity, and wisdom as we work this week and as we talk with the church in Arkansas.

Ephesians dos:quatro - Do you know it yet?

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:5 on "New Verse Monday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:4 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1-3 together with 2:4 a few times today so that you keep reinforcing 2:1-3 while learning 2:4.

Online Photo/Video Montage Maker

I'm testing out an online tool I heard about...www.onetruemedia.com

these are some pix from the recent multiethnic church conference Debbie and I attended...

Make an online slide show at onetruemedia.com

My wife the baker

Deb has been experimenting for a while to make great bread in an old bread machine. Usually it tastes good but often the loaf is kind of short and many times the top looks like Tegucigalpa, Honduras (bowled out city with encircling mountains). This always reminds me of the time my Namaw (my grandma) made an angel food cake, which we all made fun of, that looked like a nuclear reactor's cooling tower.



Anyway... today's bread machine bread was the best yet. Thanks Deb for all you are doing to help us eat healthy and at the same time save money.

Pumpkin Pix 2006

We found this little photo spot outside of grandma's home...

Saturday walk to a new coffee shop

Today the kids and I walked to a new local independent coffee and donut shop. Unlike the non-independent shops it has real handcrafted art, live music sometimes, and FREE internet. It's a nice long walk for the kids... about 1.5 miles.









Debbie drove and met us there... (I could make fun of her for that... but since she's worked out SO much more than me lately I think I'd better keep my mouth shut)

How to memorize anything fast

PRACTICE!!!!!

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:5 on "New Verse Monday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:4 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1-3 together with 2:4 a few times today so that you keep reinforcing 2:1-3 while learning 2:4.

What is "pissed"?

That's, sadly, the question I got from my eight-year-old daughter near the end of the last episode as we watched "The Biggest Loser" this week. You can't watch much of evening TV these days (even a silly reality show about losing weight) without having to counsel your kids.

Why does our language in this culture have to keep degrading? Where will it end? How can we as adults set a high standard for cleanness in our kids' language when we feel our own language slipping?

The most creative blog post I've seen

Check out this creative post I saw.

Thank God for love and mercy

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2.

Think about it... the God of the universe, the creator of all, the one who could get fed up with us and wipe us out in an instant instead has decided to have great love for us in his rich mercy.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:5 on "New Verse Monday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:4 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1-3 together with 2:4 a few times today so that you keep reinforcing 2:1-3 while learning 2:4.

Here's the text are are learning so far...

Ephesians 2
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

Everyone needs a big but

For those memorizing Eph 2:1-10 with me, this is New Verse Thursday.

Today we'll add the next verse, Ephesians 2:4. In verses 2:1-3 we concentrated on how we used to be dead in sin, how we had an evil spirit working in us, how we followed sinful desires and thoughts, how we were objects of wrath.

Verse 2:4 turns the corner and begins to show God's great love and mercy.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:4 on your 3x5 card underneath verses 1, 2, and 3.
2) Read through verse 2:4 several times and try to get where you can say it once today without looking.
3) Say verses 2:1-3 with our new verse, 2:4, a few times today trying not to look (but it's ok if you do look today). This helps reinforce our prior verses as we work on our new verse.

Ephesians 2
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

Memorizing - Practice Day

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:4 tomorrow on "New Verse Thursday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:3 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1-2 together with 2:3 a few times today so that you keep reinforcing 2:1-2 while learning 2:3.

Here goes my try without looking...

As for you, you were dead in you trangressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit that is at work in those who are disobedient. All of us have lived among them at some time, gratifying the cravings of the sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

Close but no cigar!

Keep working and I will too!!

Tomorrow with verse 4 we turn the corner with a big "but".

Reunion Church

I said a little about Reunion Church yesterday but I wanted to say some more.

I think that is a beautiful group of people.

1. They are so friendly; when people have decided to defer to others and to intentionally reach out to people of all races, classes, backgrounds you naturally have a very warm congregation.
2. They interact authentically every Sunday as they pass a mic around the congregation to hear praises and prayer needs. (This is a large theater with probably 200 in attendance.) One lady praises God that her nephew is feeling better, a man tells of his car accident and how God is getting glory through the trial, a couple announces thev've set their wedding date. It's raw and real and up-to-the-minute.
3. The meet-and-greet time is 7 minutes long so that everyone can get to know new people and catch up with friends
4. Their pastor is truly blown away at what God has done for him personally in saving him and it shows
5. After the service I was standing in the hallway with my parents while Debbie went to get the kids. Evidently my mom must have not looked overly happy because an African-American woman wearing a very happy face came up to her and said "Oh honey...honey... SMILE!" and gave her a kiss on the cheek and a hug".

Ministry to people of diverse ethnicity, age, and socio-economic level is hard. It is messy. It is an attitude of constant service to others instead of constant comfort for self.

But, it is right. It is fun. It is interesting. It is life-giving. I was alive in church yesterday.

Memorizing - NO New Verse Monday!!

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2. I know I'M behind and it's fine sometimes to take a break to catch up.

So........

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll wait and add Eph 2:4 on "New Verse Thursday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:3 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1-2 together with 2:3 a few times today so that you keep reinforcing 2:1-2 while learning 2:3.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom or the air. then... ummmmm... something about all the bad stuff we've done with our yucky sinful nature.

AAAAAAAAA!!! I've got to work on this! I'll know it by tomorrow.

Stoked

We heard a great message today at Reunion Church. The talk was called "Stoked"... as in "are you stoked about your relationship with God?" Sometimes we can feel like the fire is gone and all that remains is ash. But............ there are still embers faintly glowing... if only we can remEMBER all that God has done for us in Christ and stoke the diminishing fire back into hot flame!

How do we keep the fire burning everyday? I think one way is to be in God's word and to memorize it... to internalize it... to act on it.

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2. So far the verses are about looking back at our dead existence before meeting Christ. Once we think back about our pre-Christ lives, we'll then (through the subsequent verses) be able to remEMBER the great distance Christ has brought us and be stoked about another day with Him.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:4 tomorrow on "New Verse Monday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:3 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1-2 together with 2:3 a few times today so that you keep reinforcing 2:1-2 while learning 2:3.

Is your church made up mostly of one race?

If so, why do you think that is?

Memorizing - Practice day

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:4 on "New Verse Monday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:3 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1-2 together with 2:3 a few times today so that you keep reinforcing 2:1-2 while learning 2:3.

I have to admit I'm behind on learning 2:3... but I'll catch up. How are you doing?

Memorizing Scripture - New Verse Thursday - Eph 2:3

For those memorizing Eph 2:1-10 with me, this is New Verse Thursday.

Today we'll add the next verse, Ephesians 2:3.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:3 on your 3x5 card underneath verses 1 and 2.
2) Read through verse 2:3 several times and try to get where you can say it once today pretty much without looking.
3) Say verses 2:1-2 with verse our new verse, 2:3 a few times today trying not to look (but it's ok if you do look today). This helps reinforce our prior verses as we work on our new verse.

Ephesians 2
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

Memorizing - Practice Day

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesians 2.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:3 on "New Verse Thursday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:2 a few times without looking. Make sure to say 2:1 and 2:2 together a few times today so that you keep re-enforcing 2:1 while learning 2:2.

Random Art

Funny kids

My kids and Em's friend, Yasmine, are cracking me up. They've been decorating the front of our house.

Memorizing - Practice Day

Several of us are memorizing in Ephesian 2.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:3 on "New Verse Thursday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:2 a few times until you can say it without looking. Make sure to say 2:1 and 2:2 together a few times today so that you keep re-enforcing 2:1 while learning 2:2.

Here... I'll give it a shot from memory...

Ephesian 2:1-2
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in the way you used to follow the ways of the world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is at work in those who are disobedient.

How did I do?

Memorizing Scripture - New Verse Monday - Eph 2:2

For those memorizing Eph 2:1-10 with me, this is New Verse Monday. (If others want to join in and memorize with us, it's not too late. Start here and let me know you're in!)

Today we'll add the next verse, Ephesians 2:2.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
1) Write out Eph 2:2 on your 3x5 card underneath verse 1.
2) Read through verse 2:2 several times and try to get where you can say it once today pretty much without looking.
3) Say verse 2:1 with verse 2:2 a few times trying not to look.

Ephesians 2
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

Interesting New Blog

http://headrush.typepad.com is a very interesting blog I was introduced to via Ryan's blog.

The author of the headrush blog is a highly technical woman, but she is also very attuned to the creative side. In today's post she writes about how to grab a audience's attention whether you are a filmmaker, novelist, technical presenter, or anyone with a message to convey.

Entertaining and helpful... check it out.

Memorizing - Practice Day

Memorizing group: Just keep practicing Eph 2:1 and say it today a few times without looking. We'll add a new verse on "New verse Monday". It may seem like this is silly practicing just a few words for so many days, but as we add verses we'll be glad for the extra days.

Others can still join in. Start here and let me know you're in!

Memorizing - Practice Day

Memorizing group: Just keep practicing Eph 2:1 and say it today a few times without looking. We'll add a new verse on "New verse Monday".

Others can still join in. Start here and let me know you're in!

Memorizing - Practice day

Welcome Sally, Beth, and Debbie to memorizing Eph 2:1-10.

Others can still join in. Start here and let me know you're in!

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT:
No new verse today. We'll add Eph 2:2 on "New Verse Monday".
For today, just work on reciting Eph 2:1 a few times until you can say it without looking.

Memorizing - New Verse Thursday - Eph 2:1

Welcome Gwen and Kimberly to memorizing Ephesians 2:1-10. Kimberly, how did you get connected to my blog?

Other readers?? You can still jump in if you want. Start here and let me know you're out there!

(I suggest that we memorize in NIV but if you prefer another version go for it! NIV reads more narratively which I think makes it easier to memorize than something like the NASB)

Today we are memorizing Eph 2:1.

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,"

I'd suggest writing it small at the top of a 3x5 card. Read it through several times until you can say it once correctly without looking. Carry the card with you. Repeat a couple more times today reading it through and trying to say it once correctly without looking.

That's a short verse for today... but a powerful statement! We WERE dead.

That's all for today! Any questions/comments?

Invitation!

I've been talking again with some people about memorizing Scripture, so it thought I'd resurrect an old old post I made last year on that subject.

The only change I would make now to that plan is that I think I was a little aggressive in that post to suggest learning a new verse every day. Now, I'm thinking that a new verse twice a week is a better pace.

HERE'S AN INVITATION!!

Who is up for memorizing Ephesians 2:1-10 over the next five weeks?

awarriorprincess has expressed interest and a couple of others might join in as well. Everyone is welcome. Just comment back to let me know you are in.

Each Monday and Thursday we will learn a new verse. On this blog I'll lead us through tackling new verses on Mondays and Thursdays and I'll remind us how to be practicing the other days of the week.

Let's also share via comments the riches that God is showing us in His word as we memorize together. Also share in comments how the actual memorizing is going.

WE'LL START TOMORROW! GIVE IT A TRY!

Simplicity

Seems like there's lots of talk these days about simplicity...

Sam
Steve
Ryan

Why always NO?

I may have posted this before but I was reminded of it again this week.

I'm not a big listener of James Dobson, but something he said years ago comes to mind often.

Why can "no" not sometimes be "yes"?

My kids are always asking... can we read on the front porch? can we play with boxes from the garage? can we make a habitat for "buggy"?

In my busy life I often want to answer with "no". It would be easier for me if the kids didn't get dirty outside, didn't mess up the house with boxes, didn't intentionally bring bugs into the house. But Dobson is ringing in my head... "why can 'no' not sometimes be 'yes'?" When I manage to put down my scheduled and anal agenda, it feels good to say 'yes'.

Of course I'm not talking about a willy-nilly "yes" to things that contradict your family's values or direction. Parents have to protect their family's values and purpose and direction. But most small kids' ideas for fun don't fall into trouble there.

Been struggling with this verse

Romans 12:3 - "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."

That's all for today...

Video Memory Lane

Spent a lot of today gathering up and converting old videos I've made in order to create a "reel" of my work so that I can drum up some more video production freelance business. It was fun to look at all the old stuff, but it is like memory lane and makes me miss some old friends that I used to work with on video and other creative endeavors.

Steve D - I still think your "Voice of Truth" text video was anointed.... and your detail work on "I'm doing fine" was flawless. You are most definitely gifted in video.

Nathan - Thanks for the tip on rotating still pix instead of just zooming or panning them. Your "Today" video is so great. Wish it were mine so I could put it on my reel!!

Kris - lots of good memories... Amos on Easter: "Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Praaaaaaaiiisse the Looooooooooooord!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Easter music with the Passion clips

Carol - I'm still amazed at those carrots!

Reed - T3 and eggs... outstanding

Gene and Harry - your concept, words, and video vision came together in an amazing way on the miner video

OK... enough memory lane.

Need your creative brains

They say that 92.5% of protestant and Catholic churches in the U.S. have one race representing at least 80% of the congregation. We've become acquainted with some people who are trying to change this by creating more churches where people of all ethnic backgrounds can come together.

I'm possibly going to be helping these people with producing a vision-casting video and I need to find a great song for it. So.... question for you...

What's the most powerful song you know about racism, coming together, and love? It could be directly about racism or it could be a song that paints a picture of diverse people joined. I'm looking for something on the edgy side.

Speaking of videos... I was looking at this again this week and I still think this Invisible Children Global Night Commute video is one of the coolest videos ever.

Tourist in Space

Do you know that a woman from Plano, Texas paid $20 million to fly into space as a tourist on a Russian mission? She's in space now at the international space station and is blogging from space. Pretty wild...

Check out her blog at http://spaceblog.xprize.org/.

Creating Culture

For the past few months, we've been concentrating on what our values are as a family. We are still fleshing those out but we know they include: respecting and honoring all people, loving God's Word and following Jesus, and sticking close together as a family.

This week I started thinking about another aspect of leading my family. One of the functions of a leader is "culture creator". So... what kind of culture am I creating in my family? What kind of culture should I be creating? What attributes of family life fall into the "culture" category and what falls into the "values" category. I'm thinking that maybe culture is the "soft" stuff or the fertile ground where values can become increasingly strong.

I'm just starting to think about this. Anyone have insight on the relationship between culture and values in the family or elsewhere?

It's been a while

Man... things are busy. Someone told me this week... "you need to find a job so that you won't be so busy!" :)

It's late, so I won't write much. But I would ask you to pray for me. I had a phone interview today with a church I'd REALLY like to work for and the job is REALLY something I'd like to do. I knew the role there was solidly in my interest area but during the interview today I realized that it is even more in line with my passions than I had thought it would be.

Early to mid next week will be the critical time for decisions on their end concerning whether to continue with me to the next step of the interview process.

Appreciate your prayers for God's direction and for the right doors to open.

Emerge City Church

Our family attended a brand new church plant today... Emerge City Church which meets off Custer in McKinney, TX. It's a cool group. The pastor and his wife moved here from Brisbane City Church in Australia to plant the church. Lots of life and passion. Being from Australia, his message related Steve Irwin to Jesus' disciples. Very cool.

It's great to have these missionaries from Australia coming here to help move the kingdom forward. But, I hope increasing numbers of established local churches will also join in and plant some of these new high-energy, high-influence communities. Churches have life cycles -- we must reproduce ourselves!

The Tower of Babel ---- and cheese dip!

Continuing to look at the stories of the Bible. Yesterday was the tower of Babel - Genesis 11:1-9

The people were building the city and tower for two reasons:
1) to make a name for themselves
2) so that they could have a strong place to live and thus not be scattered

God said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them." I don't think God was saying "Oh my God :) ... if I don't do something they are going to get too powerful." I think God wanted to rescue people from thinking that they could do things without Him.

Someone might use this Babel story to argue against having ambition or drive. I don't see it that way. I think ambition is fine. It's the motivation that was the problem here. These people wanted to make a name for themselves and a place of safety. I think ambition is good if our goal is to make a name for God in our culture and to "be scattered" wherever He leads.

Jesus was certainly driven but it wasn't to do his own will but the will of the Father.

------------

On another note...
A while back our favorite favorite favorite Mexican restaurant of 30+ years closed it's doors and the owner passed away. We didn't think we'd ever get that chili con queso (in Arkansas it's called cheese dip) or salsa (in Arkansas we call it hot sauce)again. Well... a few weeks ago my dad's friend gave him a recipe for the cheese dip and hot sauce. So... when our whole extended family converged on central Arkansas for a mini-reunion last weekend we made a big deal out of cooking the dip and sauce and trying it together.









Stirring flour and butter into roux...


Stirring in milk...


Melting in Velveeta and adding spices...


Stirring... stirring.... stirring... heating.... turn up the heat.... stirring... stirring... will this stuff ever thicken up????

YES! Finally thickened up!!

We bought chips from a local mex restaurant and heated them in the oven to simulate the restaurant experience.

And............... it was GOOOOOOOD!

I wonder how I would have felt on the ark

For personal Bible study lately I've just been revisiting the stories of the Bible and doing SOAP on them (read S-cripture, Observe, Apply, Pray)

Yesterday I was on Noah and the flood.

I wonder what it would be like to be floating on a big boat for months with family and a gazillion animals. I would imagine that everyone was ready to find some land and get off of that ship. The thing that caught my eye upon this reading of the story was that Noah didn't disembark on the first muddy hill he saw sticking up out of the water. He waited until the "earth was completely dry" and until "God said to Noah, 'Come out of the ark'."

Noah did his part. He kept an eye on the situation outside the ark and he did his part in sending out the dove three times to gain intelligence. As much as he probably wanted to rush things, he must have been tempered by a weight of great responsibility. He was in charge of getting the remnant of God's living creation back to safety on land. He wasn't hasty. He wisely waited until the land was completely dry, and then he heard the confirming voice of God.

How does this apply to your life?

----------------

On another note... Getting into tennis again! I've played a few times lately and I'm loving it. This morning I rented a basket of balls and worked on my pathetic serve for about an hour. Getting better... need to find some people to play.

Busy............

No time to post much... but here's a quick update.

-- We are heading back to Arkansas for the second weekend in a row. Some extended family decided to fly in this long weekend so we're going back up there to see everyone.

-- I believe God wants me to find a place of impact working on a church staff again instead of searching for a job in the secular marketplace... looking for a role as media pastor or community outreach pastor... more on this soon.

-- I'm having a fun week shooting and editing a video for a company where some of my good friends work.

Gotta run... have a good holiday weekend.