Innovation.

Got back from the Innovate Conference in Dallas.  Have to say it was one of the better ones I’ve been to.  It was great getting to hang out with the other guys on staff here at Crossroads…also great to see Pastor John again (Living Hope Pastor, Vancouver Washington) .  Living Hoper’s you’d be proud, John spoke during the morning main session and knocked it out of the park…talking about authenticity, and learning to see interuptions in life as the God opportunities they are.  Anyway, great time….did get stuck in an ice storm down there that covered the roads with a thick sheet of ice, and knocked the power out in our hotel rooms…sweet I know.  Good to be back…believe it’s a balmy 10 degrees out today here in Wisconsin.

Beyond Me.

Getting back to the rythem of things here in Wisconsin.  Got to go out ice fishing for the first time ever…you’ll have to check out the videos of it to the left.  Preached last weekend on a few things God has really been challenging me with lately: 

I don’t know if you remember as a kid how when you first learned to draw you never saw the lines on the coloring book.  To you it might as well have been a blank canvas.  But somewhere along the lines we come to believe the goal is to keep it all within the lines.  That if our lives are neat, clean, and comfortable then everything should work out, that in God’s eyes we should come away with the A.  That said, I can’t help but wonder if we were created for more than that.  That maybe God designed us for more than simply living neat, clean, comfortable lives but rather He created us for a life beyond the lines of myself.  A life of purpose, significance, impact.   A life beyond the lines of my comfort and plans and willing to get dirty by serving those in need.  A life beyond myself by taking the time to listen, to care, to serve, to be the hands and feet of Jesus we’re all called to be.  Thos week, what is a specific way you can live beyond the lines of yourself?

Home Sweet Starbucks.

Sorry for the lack of posting recently…been surprisingly busy since being back in the Couv.  So far the trip has been going great, it feels almost tropical here with a temp of around 40 degrees…about ready to break out the shorts and t-shirts.  Been great getting to visit with ol’ friends, cruising around the Fishers Landing area again, and of course spending a few weeks living in coffee gluttony.  Anyway, I have a few more Starbucks to hit before tonight…going to try to catch a Living Hope Service this evening as well.  Hope all is well back in Wisconsin?