Making the Switch

I've been working on a new blog page for a few months now and I've decided to finally make the switch. It's got a few more bells and whistles than my current blogger one. So...in another week I will no longer be posting here. Instead, I'll be moving to my new address here. Check it out and enjoy the new and improved 247Think Blog!!!

Blogging Hiatus

It has been almost three weeks since I last blogged and I have to say it's been a nice break. Sometimes I really struggle with what to blog and I don't want to blog just for the sake of doing it. The past three weeks have been a nice reflection time. Here's what's been going on...

-My family and I enjoyed a week long trip to Disney World with my parents. Great time of fun! I'm constantly amazed at how Disney engages you from the time you enter into the place. Some highlights for me were:

• riding Small World with my two year old and watching him take it all in...the wonder and joy in his eyes made the whole trip worth it!
• riding Thunder Mountain with my four year old...it was his first time on it and he screamed and screamed and screamed! That was fun!
• watching my seven year old scurry around picking up little Mickey Mouse head confetti pieces...he has done this every time we've been to WDW since he was three.
• and lastly, seeing my grandparents whom I haven't seen in a few years. I hope I'm doing that good when I'm 80!

-I've been seeing the TV ads for Apple's new iPhone. Man I want one!!!
-I finally watched the season finale of Heroes the other day. Wow! If you're not watching this show, you're missing out!
-Sunday night's Dunk'd at the River was so cool. I never get tired of seeing people declare their faith in Christ. After all, it's why we do what we do!!!
-Laurie and I went out on our first date in a while last night. Good stuff! I can't believe we actually went to a restaurant and sat a table for two. That never happens when you have a family of six!
-We went and saw Oceans 13 on our date...very entertaining. We are huge fans of the Oceans movies. They're just fun to watch.

So what's on the horizon? Lots and lots of stuff! I'm so pumped to see what God has in store for the next few months. I just feel like big things are up ahead!

Getting away

Tomorrow my family and I leave for a much needed vacation. I am so pumped! One week with no cell phone, no computer, no nothing...except for my beautiful bride and my kids. Good stuff!

So I'll be checking out of the blogosphere for the next week. I do want to get something out of my head that I've been sitting on this week though. I've been reading a book called For the Audience of One by Mike Pilavachi. What an amazing book! But one thought I want to throw out for you to chew on for the next week is this: worship is to be a reflection of life.

Here's what I mean...too often in our worship we put on our "best", regardless of how real or authentic it is, because we think that's what we're supposed to do. Or, quite frankly we just don't want to be real. But think on this...if we don't present ourselves to God, our whole, messed up selves, we make worship about anything but God. God doesn't want your Sunday best. The bible makes it clear that our best are filthy rags to God. So why even try to impress Him?

God wants us to bring everything we are to Him. Then, and only then, will He reveal Himself to us so that we can respond with adoration and praise.

Facedown - the afterglow

Just finished meeting with the Facedown team to debrief Sunday. Wow! What an amazing evening!!! My gauge for whether Facedown was good or not is if we met with God, I believe with all my heart that we did...in a major way.

I've heard some great feedback from those of you that were there. Some say, as some always say after Facedown, is that it was the best ever. I do believe it was amazing! The coolest thing for me was to see people humbly come to the cross and fall facedown. That's what it's all about...forgetting about our surroundings and bringing ourselves- our whole, imperfect selves- to the feet of Jesus.

There's no better place to be.

Day 10: Hungry

I know I had this posted a few weeks ago, but it really speaks to my heart so much. I hope it does the same for you...




Lord Jesus, we are hungry for more of You. Fill us with Your Spirit. Amen.

Day 9: The small things

Here's an excerpt from a post Louie Giglio made on his blog a few months ago that is a tremendous reminder for all of us. Enjoy...

We shouldn't be surprised to know that God is a part of every aspect of our lives. He's not too busy (He doesn't sleep), uninterested (He's here with us), high and mighty (He's a servant-King), overloaded (He knows the names of all the stars) or ambivalent (He gave His best for us) to be connected to the small stuff. While He is a "big picture God," He's "intimately acquainted with all our ways." Psalm 139:3.

God is specific (check out all the genealogies and lists in the Bible). He is into microscopic things. He first split the atom. And there is no detail in your life today too small for Him to know and care about.

Father, it's amazing that You see and know us all. Teach us today to pray about the smallest things. For Jesus' sake, who was the specific answer to hundreds of promises (details), Amen.

“All this” said David, “the LORD made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, all the details of this pattern.” Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished." 1 Chronicles 28:19-20

Day 8: The Coming Hope

Just a short entry today...

I read in 1 Thessalonians 4 yesterday about the return of Jesus. Paul tells of how the dead in Christ will rise to meet Jesus in the sky and then those that are left, those that are alive, will go up to join them. And the last verse, verse 18, says "Therefore encourage one another with these words." That really got me thinking. What an incredible day that will be when Jesus returns to take us home. I cannot fathom it, to be honest. But here's what else God showed me...your current circumstances are so small in the grand scheme of things. They are just a blip on the radar when you force yourself to step back and look at the big picture.

I know there is a lot of pain, stress, and uncertainty out there. But hear this: the coming Hope, Jesus Christ, will return one day to take us to our true home with Him and our Father God. That's something to celebrate!