Floam

This morning at Paradox the Journey (our kids ministry not the band - although that would be pretty cool too) is taking over the service.

So there will be a lot of kids in the room, a ditsy valley girl, Indiana Jones, a break in the middle to bowl and floam!

What's floam you ask? I'm not sure either but I hope it's edible; remember the room full of kids part!

Oh yeah, did I mention the part where someone will get duck tapped down in front everyone?

I love this church and the people here that will do anything possible to communicate the love Jesus has for us, and the incredible story He is inviting us into.

Scooby Doo & Dora Too

Last night was a great start to the holiday weekend. After work I met with a couple whose wedding I am doing in July and we had an great time talking about life, faith, marriage & all the things that shape us into who we are. One of the best parts of my job is being invited into the stories of other people.

After that my wife & I had a bunch of people over to our home for dinner. We thoroughly assaulted the grill. We had ribs, pork tenderloin, tuna steaks & mixed veggies. Thanks to Dave for the tuna; amazing dude, amazing!

I love the diversity of my friendships & the mosaic of the lives that are apart of mine. Nights like last night remind me & my wife just how rich we are.

Then, this morning I woke up to all three of my kids running around in their scooby doo & dora undies, each of them at full throttle and crazy as can be.
Even with a headache that I've now had for three days it's just one of those mornings where I thank God for my life.

Feeling a part of something big

Yesterday I met with a group of local pastors, which would normally make me want to beat myself up & steal my lunch money. I mean honestly, pastors are usually a weird bunch, & hanging out with a group of them can be as fun as going to a coin collecting convention (sorry if you like to collect coins).

But these guys are different, none of them care about whose is bigger (church that is), or who has a cooler building, or what political person / agenda to picket next.

As a matter of fact they all had something I don't usually see when a group of pastors get together; PASSION!

These guys and the churches they lead are spread all over Southeast Michigan and all of them are convinced of many things, but one thing that seems to be present in all of us is a belief, a sense, a feeling; that God is up to something really big around the Metro Detroit area.

One description I heard was a guy say it fees like God's finger is on the levy of something big & He is going to soon push through & a flood is coming. I assume He meant a flood of good stuff because I really like where I live & I don't want it going all Atlantis on me!

I agree with that guy, actually, we all agreed with that guy yesterday & we all feel something that is a bit allusive but is strong. We all dreamed for a few minutes about what God may be up to, how we might all work together, & how to lead our churches to more fully love Jesus & love the people He has placed us into the lives of.

God is up to something, and something is coming & I want to be on the ground floor of being a part of it, I hope you do too.

I really think that our churches, getting more serious about serving their city, is a big part of what God is trying to mobilize with His church around here. So, be praying for me right now as I look for someone with a heart and desire to help organize our serving opportunities & projects in our city. I wonder if that person, is you.

Another full day...

Anyone watch American Idol last night?? Ok, so did I. My wife and I have watched most of American Idol this season and last night my pick won over hers! Congrats to Lee Dewyze. He just may be the first American Idol winner whose album I buy.

Today is day one of what will be many meetings this summer aimed at trying to raise additional support for Paradox. So, if you're loaded then I have an opportunity for you to invest in!! But, if not then how about some good wishes and prayers for our efforts to raise some bling so that we can accomplish the many things we dream of doing in and around our world?

What things you ask? Well, things like...
* Ramp up our serving efforts throughout our city
* Invest in more church plants, like the one we're helping in Toronto
* Build an orphanage in Mozambique, Africa (got your attention there didn't I - that's another post)
* Invest in our Sunday morning space (kids & adults) to better serve people on a Sunday morning
* Bring a few of our full time volunteer staff closer to "show me the money" status so they can focus on the needs of our church & our city with more full time and undivided energy.
* Pay for Dan Cipponeri to get a hair transplant; he is not embracing his baldness well!!!
* And all kinds of other crazy ideas that we want to see happen in and around our city in an effort to see more & more people come to know the love and the life of the God who formed them, whose name is Jesus, & to whom we all so greatly matter.

Stripping Church

That's funny! Those are words that don't usually go in the same sentence, but they do when you're starting a new church on the Vegas strip.

The Verve is a cool church led by a good friend of mine who is a pastor not a stripper. I actually think he'd make a horrible stripper.

The Verve is doing some really unique things. Check ‘em out...

www.vivalaverve.org

Into my head & into the Paradox

Not that I assume many people want to get into my head, but there are some strange things in there that might make for an interesting peek. I am the lead pastor of a pretty cool church called Paradox, and this site is a place for me to try to better stay in touch with the people in Paradox by sharing the things in my head.

Or, maybe the more I share the things in my head the more the people in Paradox will realize just how strange a cat I am and run for the hills…like they heard a banjo playing.

Either way, I love Jesus, I love my family, I love my church and I love my city. The rest we can figure out along the way...